Enga LLG set-up draws fire

The establishment of another local level government – Wali-Tarua – in Kompiam-Ambum electorate has been met with stiff opposition from some sections of the Engan community. The local community-based Alliance for Anti-Corruption (CAAC) body in Enga took up the fight and submitted a protest note to Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare, Deputy Prime Minister and chairman of the National Planning Committee Sam Abal and Inter-Government Relations Minister Job Pomat.

THE people of Kompiam in Enga have experienced a dreadful period since the 1997 national election.
The last election in 2007 was a real nightmare with election-related killings and continuous tribal wars resulting in the loss of many lives. The Wali-Tarua LLG was recently approved by the National Executive Council.
However, during the 2007 elections, it was said to be one of the most-affected areas when a good number of ballot boxes were allegedly hijacked and used by a particular candidate. Numerous disputes developed and a number of lives were lost and properties destroyed.
A primary school teacher, who many believed was involved in the alleged hijacking of the ballot boxes, was beheaded.
It is understood that the creation of the new LLG is intended to compensate the people of Wali-Tarua for the lives lost and the damages and sufferings they have undergone.
The submission by the local community-based Alliance for Anti-Corruption (AAC) was also copied to the government departmental secretaries concerned and provincial and district administrators.
The alliance’s views were also shared by a number of ward councillors, community leaders, church leaders and village elders, businessmen and women, women and youth and student leaders, public servants and other individuals and groups.
The local AAC was established to address economic, political and social issues and concerns affecting rural Kompiam-Ambum. As an anti-graft body, it is the mouthpiece and watchdog of the rural masses including illiterate villagers and youths, women and children.
While all processes may have followed in the establishment of the new LLG, upon recommendation from the Enga provincial executive council, the alliance argues that there are still facts and considerations to be made:
*Comparatively, Kompiam is the least populated district with a small landmass in Enga. Given that fact, two LLGs (Kompiam and Ambum) were set up immediately after independence. Then, in the early 1990s, the Wapi-Yengis LLG was approved bringing the total up to the required three local level governments. The Wabag and Wapenamanda districts, which are highly populated with a huge landmass, have less than three LLGs while Laiagam-Porgera has four which is justified by its population and landmass. The difference between population and total eligible voter population for Kompiam district appeared to be only 4,844, an implication that out of the total, 4,844 persons were ineligible to vote at that time. The table below illustrates this point.
*Not much in terms of major impact projects and development have taken place in Kompiam in the last 18 years under successive leaderships. The rural economy has remained stagnant while the delivery of basic services such as health and education, roads and bridges has been poor.
*Notable increases were observed in election eligible voter population for the Kompiam-Ambum electorate over the recent past. Citing post-electoral commission reports on the 2007 national elections, the jump in numbers was due to duplication of names and registration of ghost names in the common roll. “In actual fact, we anticipated the population growth to be modest for the district.”
*The deterioration of existing infrastructure and social services, and the total breakdown of the service delivery mechanism and its need for improvement, remains a big challenge for the Kompiam-Ambum district and, generally, the rest of PNG. “We do not believe that the establishment of another LLG will result in improved service delivery as the existing system of administration and service delivery mechanism is weak.”
*The frequently asked questions are: What is the guarantee that there will be improvement in service in the new LLG when the administrative systems and mechanisms in the existing two LLGs are not functioning? The need to correct inconsistencies and irregularities in service delivery should have been our political leaders’ priority from the beginning, why now when we are about to have the next general election?
*With less than 15 months away from the issue of writs for the next elections, the people of Kompiam-Ambum will want to know the reasons behind the LLG’s establishment and whether there is a need to do so given the district’s population and its landmass. The AAC has expressed suspicion over the move and its political affiliation.
*The Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments (section 26 and sub-section 4) is clear on the requirements for all electorates to have no more than three local level governments in an electorate, or district. “The reasons to establish a new LLG in the name of rural development and improvement in service delivery seemed a deceitful tactic to pursuing political interest at the 11th hour,” the AAC said.
“We want to bring to light the following issues and concerns on the proposal to establish a new LLG in Kompiam-Ambum district,” it added.
“As there were a lot of discrepancies in the 2007 common roll the national government, with AusAID and other donor funding, have pumped in millions of kina in an effort to update the roll book and to correct other irregularities and inconsistencies.
“We understand the government, through the PNG Electoral Commission, is spending millions of kina again to embark on a nationwide awareness campaign to address these problems.”
According to the alliance, post-election reports for Kompiam-Ambum for 1992, 1997, 2002 and 2007 had shown alleged corrupt practices which had led to victories.
Their spillover effects were continuous tribal fights, deaths and other social and law and order problems.
“Under normal circumstances, feasibility studies and surveys will be conducted along with consultations, meetings and gatherings to gauge the people’s views and opinions.
“In this case, the matter has been bulldozed, manipulated and it all happened behind closed doors until it went through and got NEC approval.
“Such, we believe, is the work of some desperate, greedy and selfish people.
“This has demonstrated to the people of Kompiam-Ambum and Enga that there is collaboration between certain politicians and the Enga provincial executive council and other relevant agencies for political convenience. It is not in the people’s interest now and in the future.
“The PNG Electoral Commission must take necessary steps to ensure the Kompiam-Ambum common roll is not manipulated in any way,” the AAC said.
“We are of the opinion that there are plans underway to establish new rest houses in one or both of the existing LLGs in preparation for next year’s electiosn. In light of such cases, it is highly likely that ghost names and duplication of names in the common roll is imminent.”
The anti-graft group also cautioned the Electoral Commission that when recruiting and selecting returning officers next year, it should consider the impacts of the new LLG in Kompiam-Ambum.
“The recruitment and selection of district returning officer and assistant returning officers must be done under strict guidelines and rules.
“It is our plea that the selection process not be manipulated or influenced in any way and that it should be done through a transparent and honest matter.”
The AAC also called for:
*The newly NEC approved LLG be implemented after the 2012 general election;
*A thorough awareness-survey to be conducted straight after the election next year so that the participation from the people of Kompiam-Ambum district and Enga is equally represented;
*The recruitment and selection of returning officers, particularly for Kompiam-Ambum, be done in a more transparent and honest manner; and
*The Ombudsman Commission to carry out its own investigation to establish any issues of misconduct and wrongdoing in relation to the creation of a new LLG in relation to its population and landmass.
“The government, through assistances from donor agencies, is sponsoring policy programmes and plans to bring PNG out of its current social, political and economic doldrums. Its major focus in all its development plans and strategies are rural-based and economic recovery.
“While the government, on the one hand call on its ministers, administrators and other leaders to prioritise on improving all existing infrastructures and services, there are senior state ministers doing all they can to survive the next election.
“We believe that these are desperate moves by leaders seeking political benefits than service delivery. As such, we condemn their actions and intentions.
“These leaders have to be investigated.”