By VERONICA MANUK
TWO top officials in the West New Britain provincial administration are facing contempt charges for failing to facilitate entitlements for teachers as ordered by the court.
Over 140 teachers in West New Britain had taken court action against the WNB provincial government for their outstanding leave entitlement dating back to 2002.
Acting provincial education adviser, John Glengme and another officer with the provincial administration are to show cause as to why they should not be charged with contempt of court.
The acting provincial education adviser was named as the defendant on behalf of the education division and the administration officer was named on behalf of the provincial administration. In early December of 2006, a teacher, Mathew Michael, on behalf of 146 teachers, sued the provincial education division and the provincial administration for their outstanding entitlement since 2002.
The court on Dec 19, 2006 ordered the two parties to come up with a schedule to show how much was owed to the teachers. They were given one month to comply, but failed to do so.
Last Aug 24, teachers took another order against the administration, but again the order was ignored.
The teachers returned to court last month, and an order was issued for the two officers to appear in court next month to explain why they should not be charged for failing to carry out the order.