Pay rise long overdue, Ipatas says

 ENGA Governor and veteran councillor Sir Peter Ipatas says councillors were long overdue for a pay rise.

He said that last week during the launching and commencement of  local level government members’ increased monthly allowance payment by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Inter-Government Relations Leo Dion. 

“Today is a very important day for people like me – Someone who’s been a councillor,” Ipatas said.

“I’ve always, in my dreams and visions, thought that we should have some sort of established system in our villages and wards. This is because when we lost the colonial administration we somehow lost the traditional style of leadership that was holding the communities together.

“Over time, after 40 years of independence, you will basically see that in a lot of areas in the Highlands we have lost our leadership in the villages.

“This is because all of a sudden businessmen have become important in the villages, educated guys are becoming important, marijuana guys are becoming important, and so on. In a way, councillors who are trying to hold the society together have quietly lost faith in the system.”

Ipatas said councillors had started losing their self-esteem when they saw village court magistrates and recorders being paid, but not them.

“All of a sudden, councillors are thinking, ‘who are we’,” he said.

Ipatas commended Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and the Government for making the right decision.

“It is good to try and recognise these LLG councillors, who have strived to try and change the community.”