Govt urged to pay more

THE government has been urged to look into increasing pay packages for ward councillors.
President of Wampar in the Huon district, Morobe, Peter Namus said for years councillors had been on quarterly allowances and should now be on fortnightly salaries like all elected leaders.
Namus said many did not get their quarterly allowances of about K600 on time and had to wait for more than six months.
He said councilors should not be receiving allowances as they were elected by the people.
He said it was bad enough not receiving much funding for projects in their respective wards. But now the authorities do not pay them on time making their jobs harder.
Namus said all councilors in the country were affected.
Gagidu Mayor Mana­seh Rainier said councillors were there on the ground with the people and needed basics like tea and sugar.
Jabem-Mape president Judas Nalau said the long intervals between the payments of allowances meant many had to borrow money to serve tea for villagers who visited them with issues.