Police await allowances

By ELLEN TIAMU
MEMBERS of the police force providing security for the national elections in Lae, Morobe, have yet to receive their allowances.
A policeman at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Indoor Stadium in Lae who did not want to be named said they had been paid earlier for three weeks up to the counting period but since then they had not been given anything.Counting for the Morobe regional seat is nearing completion at the stadium.
Police personnel said they were owed more than three weeks in allowances because of the delay in the counting for the governor’s seat.
Morobe election manager, Simon Sinai said the matter was not an Electoral Commission issue as police had their own election budget. Mamose divisional commander Allan Kundi confirmed there were outstanding issues with election allowances.He said the police headquarters was dealing with the matter.
Kundi said he had directed the provincial police commander and Lae metropolitan commander to forward a list of police personnel yet to be paid and that had been sent to Port Moresby.
 He said police headquarters had given an undertaking it would pay.
A declaration for the Morobe regional seat is expected to be made this afternoon.