Counting in Madang going well

Provincial census coordinator for Madang, Lau Sorum is optimistic of achieving his goals despite minor hiccups with logistics and allowances.
The census enumeration runs from July 11-17 when all centres will dispatch personnel bearing identification cards from the National Statistical Office.
Sorum said news of further funding delays set back training for interviewers and supervisors, logistics dispatching, allowances, manual booklets and fuel for vehicles.
He was seen yesterday sorting administrative issues, trying to calculate food rations for a district by calculating only necessary items on the list and issuing instructions while giving this interview.
He said the training dates of June 27-30 had been rescheduled twice and would now be from July 4-8.
Sorum said supervisors and interviewers being trained would be paid K50 as a one-off payment after the week-long training.
Other rates will include :
* Workload allowance – given after conducting the week-long interviews and after compilation of reports are filed, supervisors – K500, interviewers – K420, LLG coordinators – K700, provincial census coordinator – K1,000, guides, porters and interpreters – K20 and security K30;
* Master trainers and their assistants will receive K1,000 allowance as a one-off payment;
* Travelling allowan­ces will only be for those travelling away from home for more than 24 hours – K200 per day;
* Provincial officers engaged in urban areas – K40 per day; and
* Provincial officers engaged in rural areas – K50 per day;
However, more than  300 interviewees from the Ambenob LLG on Monday were complaining about food at Jomba Catholic Parish hall.
Albert Ului, one of the master trainers, also said there was a shortage of books, no T-shirts and caps and participants were sharing booklets.
He said with no word on allowances, many of them were dispirited.
Sorum said his office was only going to provide cash to the participants for their lunch.
“These minor hiccups are manageable. Negotiations for the Defence Force Casa are already done and the plane should be here this week to dispatch logistics and supplies,” he said.