LLG election

LAST month, Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato doubted whether the LLG elections would go ahead or not because of the February earthquake, tribal fighting, the current financial situation country is facing and Apec preparation.
However, things are progressing well, resulting in the announcement of final LLG elections date by the commissioner approved by the minister.
Shortly, writs will open and the constitutional powers will automatically go back to the people from the 6000-plus wards in 329 LLGs across the nation.
They will decide who will be their next leader representing them in the third tier of government.
Everyone is gearing up to select the best.
In terms of development aspects, there is a big difference between urban local level government (ULLG) and rural local level government (RLLG).
Although these two do not receive adequate or direct funding from the national Government, setting-wise, urban LLGs are somewhat lucky enough to see some services and be part of some major changes brought forward by the Government.
For all rural LLGs, service delivery has been an ongoing challenge.
Our Government should not waste time to say: “We will fund education, health services and build infrastructures such as roads, bridges and so forth.”
Those are the returns and output of tax being collected from us.
They should be classified as compulsory services which we are 100 per cent entitled to receive and enjoy. MPs are legislators and policy-makers: They should come up with workable policies that facilitate service delivery to reach the rural population.
Let me give an example: Our ward councilors are not appointed leaders.
They are mandated leaders, meaning, they have gone through the election processes and pulled out of the ballot boxes.
They deserved to be treated fairly like MPs.
Why are they left out of policies that enable MPs receiving DSIP funds and provincial governors taking PSIP funds?
It’s time LLGs get direct funding from national purse.
Councillors are the closest and immediate government representatives to the rural people.

Hanam Bill Sandu
Lae