Ex-MP: Support local leaders

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 12th June 2013

 FORMER Moresby Northeast MP Andrew Mald says provincial and community leaders, such as councillors, needed support from national leaders.

They were the people on the ground to deal with problems, he said.

Mald said too often these leaders were treated with contempt by the national leaders.

“In many instances, the provincial and local leaders are being used as rubber stamps by their national counterparts. They are not given the right support in terms of wages and resources to encourage them in their work although many have put their lives on the line,” Mald said last week.

“As a consequence of that, these leaders lose respect and trust from their community.” 

Mald said it was pleasing to see that Sinasina-Yongomugl MP and Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Kerenga Kua was taking the lead to upgrade allowances for community leaders.

“Mr Kua is showing the way to other MPs to follow, Mald said. 

“This is not a difficult thing to do in electorates.”