ONLY a few councillors in the Hulia local level government (LLG) know how much the authority receives in grants and revenue and even fewer know how it is being spent, The National was told yesterday.
Halabi ward councillor Tony Agilo, who claimed to speak on behalf of the other 30 councillors, said despite the millions of kina received every year in equity, royalties, special support grants from Moran oil, provincial and National Government grants; there were no accounts nor evidence to show that some work been done.
“There has been no council meeting during the last four years to approve the budget and discuss other important issues,” he said.
He said the Halabi LLG was one of the richest in the province but services to the people were poor.
“We have had four council presidents in the past and the frequent changes have affected the delivery of services to the people,” he said.
He alleged that there had been financial abuse.
Mr Agilo said the LLG now had only K200,000 in its trust account with the Bank of South Pacific.
He said the account was frozen by MP Francis Potape recently because two men were now engaged in a legal battle over presidential seat.
He said a 14-day notice was issued to all he councillors to meet in Mendi today with Mr Potape and SHP Governor Anderson Agiru to elect a new interim president pending the court’s decision.