WHP village court officials get pay increase, uniforms

By YVONNE HAIP
VILLAGE court officials in Western Highlands have been awarded pay increases in recognition of their work as the “backbone of law and order”.
Western Highlands Governor Tom Olga also told the 7,000 magistrates, land mediators, peace and good order committee officers and mediators that they would also be covered by insurance.
The community law enforcers marched  through Mt Hagen proudly displaying their new uniforms.
They assembled later at Rebiamul where Olga announced an increase in their monthly allowances.
The officials said the uniforms would boost their efforts to maintain and promote law and order in the community.
Provincial law and order chairman David Maip said the role played by the village court officials had never been properly recognised in the past 25 years.
He said the officials were the backbone of law and order in the communities, districts, province and the country.
Despite the hardship they faced, the officials had continued to do their work and promote law and order in their respective communities.
Maip, who had been a councillor for the past 25 years, said Olga’s initiative was something new and he would ensure that the officials put in the extra effort in carrying out their duties.
Olga said supplying the new uniforms and increasing pay for the village court officials were done to make sure that law and order and peace were maintained in all communities.
He assured the village court officials that they would be covered by insurance.
The uniforms were made in Philippines for more than K500,000.
They were paid for by the provincial government.