Source:  The National, 

MORE than 60,000 people living in the Awi-Pori Local Level Government in Hela want it split in two.
The Local Level Government in Tari-Pori district has 39 council wards and the grant given by the Government is not sufficient to serve the people.
Former president Ailo Arapa said a submission was made to the Government two years ago and was with Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion, the Minister for Inter-Government Relations. He said the Southern Highlands provincial government and the Hela Transitional Authority had given their blessings to the proposal.
“I was on the provincial executive council when we made the submission and are still waiting for a response,” he said.

Arapa said providing services to the people in 39 wards were a huge task with limited funding from government.
It would be better, therefore, to divide it into two, he added. Arapa said many people were crying out for services but the Local Level Government president could not do much to help them because there were insufficient funds available.