No money, no elections, ‘unpaid’ leaders tell govt

Local level government presidents in Madang have resolved to boycott the national LLG elections next month if they are not paid their full entitlements.
In a meeting on Saturday, the 19 LLG presidents from the six districts in the province and ward councillors planned the boycott.
Madang Mayor Joe Yama called the meeting at the Madang Urban LLG chamber.
He said their salaries had been outstanding from 2013.
Naho-Rawa LLG president Samuel Nesau said ward councillors and ward recorders also needed their outstanding salaries and other entitlements paid before the elections next month.
Astrolabe Bay LLG president Amili Deide said ward councillors played an important role in their community and and villages.
He said they were jacks of all trades at the village level because they performed duties meant for doctors, teachers, police and other professions.
“Our ward councillors should be very well compensated for their hard work before we go for elections,” he said.
Yama said they joined with Morobe LLG presidents and other colleagues around the country in calling on Government to pay their dues before the elections.
Yama said they wanted to see their full entitlements paid into their bank account by the first week of next month.
“We will seek a court order and stop the local level government elections in Madang until our outstanding entitlements are paid to us accordingly,” he said.