Ward members to get allowances

WARD members in East New Britain will receive their overdue allowances by next week, deputy governor Cosmas Bauk says.
Bauk, who is the provincial chairman of local level government (LLG) affairs and justice, said the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs last week allocated K13.5 million to settle the payments.
Bauk explained that the funding was the first payment for the ward members for the months of Feb to July.
He said complaints by ward members in the province had prompted his office to follow up the matter in Port Moresby leading to the department releasing the money.
Bauk said the East New Britain administration aimed to be given the power and funding to pay the ward members.
He said the ENB government was also looking to settle ward members entitlements as well as pay land mediators and magistrates.
Bauk urged the ENB division of LLG affairs and justice to ensure ward members continue to perform their roles and responsibilities in the ward level.