By Colleen Barilae – EM TV News, Lae
Law and Order Committee members at Lae district’s Ahi Local Level Government have raised concerns over the allowances they get.
Last year K1,500 was given to more than 20 law and order committee members for their law and order works at Ahi’s ward 9 area.
Lae district last year made a commitment to allocate allowances for community policing officers.
In an arrangement between Lae district and volunteers of law and order work, more than 300 committee members have been maintaining peace in communities for the past ten years.
In 2015, the community policing officers received K1,500 for more than 20 Law and order committee members.
And some of their efforts have paid off, homebrew equipment given up to police last week.
However, below lies their struggle of receiving little money from the district to support their livelihoods.
Charlie Foxy has worked a law and order committee for over three years now.
He receives little allowance from the district yearly.
“We are usually the first to solve any social problem that arises,” the peacemaker said.
Lae district’s law and order committee Chairman, Sam Oyaya, has however confirmed the district has committed to allocate allowance for community leaders this year.
“There should be a training for law and order committee members and those who are trained will be put on allowance,” Sam said.
The committee, of more than 300 committee members, has been working alongside village court magistrates and police to maintain order in Lae communities.
