The government’s decision to pay village counsellors and ward members, launched earlier this year, has not been happening as village counsellors and ward members from the Kairuku Hiri electorate have not been paid.
Kairuku Hiri MP, Peter Isoaimo, asked the Minister for Provincial Affairs, Leo Dion, whether his department was aware of the situation and what the department will be doing.
The minister acknowledged that his department is aware of the situation and informed the parliament that all provincial governments had a part to play to ensure that funds available are released.
All provincial governments are to collect relevant data on their ward members and counsellors which are to be sent to the Department of Provincial Affairs.
He also said that once the department has all the data required from the provincial government and all is processed, the counsellors and ward members will be backdated and paid.
However, he said it is also the responsibility of the members of parliament to provide salaries for them while waiting for the government to sort out the situation.
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