No officer to sign cheques, no allowance

 By JAYNE SAFIHAO

ALLOWANCES for polling officials in six out of the 19 local level governments in Madang have been held up because there is no one to sign the cheques.

Returning officer Philip Enn yesterday confirmed that there was change to the provincial treasurer’s post and cheques had been waiting to be signed for almost three weeks.

Uriah Soten is to take up the new posting with the Morobe provincial government. 

Enn said this was putting a lot of pressure on him because counting needed to proceed.

Enn said it included K294,000 of outstanding police allowance to be paid by the Electoral Commission.

He said 13 of the 19 LLGs had already been paid.

“Cash advances will be paid but for the moment, those with shops close to them have been allowed to get food on a credit basis,” he said. 

The six LLGs are Almami and Yawar in Bogia, Transgogol, Ambenob, Naiudo in Raicoast and Josephstaal in Middle Ramu.

Enn said five LLG’s had declared their presidents.

He said Karkar, Sumgilbar, Astrolabe Bay and Nahorawa were in their final stages of counting with declarations to be made soon.