Ex-soldiers payment deferred

FORMER soldiers and their family members in  the Momase and Highlands region want to know why their outstanding retrenchment and benefit money have been deferred to next year.
They said their entitlements were due to be paid today but they were told last Friday that they would have to wait until next year.
They fear that the wait could be longer.
The soldiers, who were retrenched between 2001 and 2006, numbered more than 1,000 were recruited before Independence.
They had since been joined by widows and children of their colleagues who had died while waiting for their entitlements.
“We have been waiting for nine years for our housing and hardship allowances, a wait which has claimed 15 members through death.
“We really appreciated the input from the Department of Justice and Attorney General and are now calling on Minister for Defence, Bob Dadae, to explain.
“It should be made clear that our case is different and should not be entertained with the rest of the other cases pending in the courts,” a spokesman said.
Mr Dadae could not be reached last Friday  for comments.