Security forces yet to be paid

By Rebecca Kuku
SOME members of the Joint Security Force engaged in the general election are yet to be paid their allowances, it has been revealed.
Northern Police Commander Lincoln Gerari said he was getting food from the shops on credit to feed the security officers on the ground who had not received their allowances. In East New Britain, provincial police commander Joe Tabali said they were asked to send in the bank account details of all the security officers so that their allowances could be paid directly to the banks.
“So far, the officers have not received their allowances,” he said.
“So I have sent their bank account details again to headquarters for the second time so that they can process their allowances.”
In Manus, provincial police commander David Yapu said while his officers had received their polling allowance, they had not been paid their counting allowance.
In Southern Highlands, provincial police commander Sibron Papoto said many officers had not received their allowances.
“The officers have received their salaries, they are been paid for doing their jobs,” he said.
“But as for the allowances, that is an administrative matter and police headquarters will sort out.”
Police Commissioner Gari Baki, the head of the Joint Security Task Force, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
During the launching of the security operations in May, Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari had said the security operations would be funded by the government for K121 million.
Finance Secretary Dr Ken Ngangan also said all election service
providers including the joint security operations would be paid electronically through the Inter-Department Election Commission Trust Fund.