Source: The National Thursday, 26th January 2012
By GIBSON TORASO
UPNG journalism student
JIWAKA’S North Waghi local level government president Dorum Mek is urging the national government to dissolve the LLG because there is no funding for it and its members are only paid allowances.
Mek said with the creation of reserved women’s seats and the increasing number of electorates with the two new provinces of Jiwaka and Hela, “where is the funding to cater for these extra members if the government cannot fund local level governments”.
“We are the third level government representatives who are close to the people and know what people need and lack but where is the funding to deliver these services,” he asked.
Mek said since there was no separate funding for the LLGs, the government should consider abolishing
them.
He said it was a waste of time claiming to be a councillor when they were only paid allowances.
Mek said LLGs must be effectively funded to deliver much needed services at the rural level.
He claimed elected MPs “are continuously misusing the people’s money and people are not happy with the way they are treated because they are not benefiting and do not know where their money goes”.
“There is no change with DSIP funding or district improvement services fund.
“Councillors and our people don’t know what the MPs are doing to deliver much needed services in our respective LLGs,” Mek said.
He said being a LLG member was a waste of time.
“We are just carrying our title as councillors and that is embarrassing.
“I strongly condemn the national government for not directly funding local level governments and urge the national government to abolish LLGs as it is wasting our time.”