Councillors threaten boycott
By GABRIEL FITO
More than 700 councillors from the 26 local level governments in East Sepik have given the East Sepik provincial administration (ESPA) until next Monday to settle their outstanding allowances and entitlements or they would boycott the LLG elections next month.
At least 50 councillors braved yesterday’s heat to walk almost 2kms from the East Sepik provincial administration headquarters to The National’s Wewak office to air their grievances.
The councillors said they have decided to go to the media because their request to speak with the provincial administration was turned down as all elected MPs including the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and Governor Peter Wararu are in Port Moresby.
The councillors are demanding more than K12 million in outstanding allowances and other entitlements.
They said the amount they are demanding is the accumulated total, which the ESPA failed to pay since 1997.
Under the approved salary structure in 1997, the councillors’ salary is to increase from K50 to K200 as determined by each provincial government depending on their revenue.
The councillors’ spokesman, Robie Tuta from Keram local level government, said all councillors have agreed to resort to such action because they could not tolerate the manner in which they are being treated.
“We are human beings and should be fairly treated. We have families to look after, school fees for our children and the list goes on.
“The national MPs are crying for an increase in their salaries without giving any thought of the poor councillors who are at all times living with the people back in the communities with only K100 for a month, which cannot cater for all their needs,” they said.
Mr Tuta said the councillors are also planning to stage a public forum on Monday at the Prince Charles Oval to seek support from the public to boycott the local level government elections.
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