New Ireland service providers owed K400,000

 SERVICE providers in New Ireland are still owed K400,000 from last year’s general election, provincial election manager Alwynn Jimmy said.

This was the only major problem as the province prepared to start the local level government election process with the issue of writs today.

Jimmy said the province was awaiting payment from the Government so it could settle the outstanding bills.

“We don’t want the same to happen again as service providers have been reluctant to render their assistance due to past experience,” he said. 

“These are the people who have made the elections possible and it is only right they are paid as the Government is already in place.”

Meanwhile, Jimmy said Matalai, the newest local level government in the province, was ready to conduct its first elections.

The 10th LLG in the province had broken away from the Namatanai Urban LLG which has the Susurunga-Tanglamet constituency in East Coast Namatanai.