Recognise work of councillors

THE Siassi local level government (LLG) is the only island LLG in Morobe that lies about 160 nautical miles from Lae so putting ward members on the payroll will make our job a little bit easier, particularly for payment of transport to Lae to do our respective ward business.
Unlike in the past, we have to wait for more than three months to get our monthly allowances paid to enable us to pay for ship or boat fares to travel between Lae and Siassi to conduct official business.
This process is long because the Department of Provincial and Local Government Affairs waits for funds to be released by Finance.
The fortnightly allowance will not only be used for councillors but also to pay for freight for project materials because all payments are paid directly to the hardware companies.
Councillors only collect the materials but there are no funds provided for freight or ship fare to take them to the district.
Although K300 is not enough for an isolated LLG like ours, we are very fortunate to have a government minister recognise the work that the ward members do and act to put them on the government payroll.
We, the councillors, believe that most MPs have lived, grown and seen how their respective past councillors served the people, especially in their rural communities, but maybe they (MPs) have busy with their electoral responsibilities that they have forgotten the important and vital role councillors play in bringing development to the village.

Ward eight councillor Simon Yala
Siassi LLG councillors