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By JAMES APA GUMUNO
POLLING officials in the Western Highlands province are refusing to hand
over their returns and polling reports in protest against what they
claim to be underpayment of allowances.
They have warned that unless they are properly compensated, counting
would not proceed today as scheduled.
But Western Highlands election manager Kala Rawali has rejected their
claim, and has threatened to use police to arrest the polling officials
if they do not hand over the returns and polling reports.
More than 1,000 polling officials in the Western Highlands province
involved are said to be affected.
The presiding officers claimed they were supposed to be paid K576 in
allowances for three days, but were only paid K380 and didn’t know
whether this included training, camping, dinner, lunch and breakfast per
diem.
Three presiding officers namely Mike Teine (Tarangau Rest House), Philip
Manga (Kolkmul) and Joe Philla (Mt Hagen Hospital) who spoke to The
National, claimed they represented 532 other polling officials in Hagen
Central electorate.
They also asked why K20 was deducted as tax from all their pay packets.
In a gathering at the Kapal Haus, they agreed that they not hand over
the returns today unless they are properly compensated.
But Mr Rawali said he would use police to force the surrender of the
returns so counting could proceed.
He said the rates to calculate the allowances were changed and even
then, the amount paid to them for the one day work was still too much.
But he refused to given details of how the allowances were calculated,
referring all matters to his accounts personnel Greg Kaiulo, who was not
available for comments.
What the WHP officials are being paid appear less than those paid in
nearby Enga province.
Election manager in Enga Henry Kyakas said that he was paying presiding
officers K500, assistant ROs K450 and clerks K350.
He said that about 900 polling officials received their allowances
yesterday.
He said that the allowances they received included camping, travelling,
breakfast, lunch and dinner allowances.
 
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