Madang Ward Recorders & Agents raise concerns on allowance

Ward Recorders and Agents in the six districts of Madang have raised grievances over nonpayment of allowances, including the cost incurred during the roll update for eight months.

The ward recorders and agents met with the Madang electoral officer manager, Sponsar Navi, on Monday (June27) at the Madang town police station demanding for the electoral office to pay their dues.

Madang Urban Local Level Government Ward Recorder, Theodore Mandoma, says they have been patient over five months and it is time the electoral office addressed their grievances.

Mandoma explained the buildup of their frustrations stems from four issues; nonpayment of allowance, insufficient allowance as per their contracts, risk allowance and the cost incurred since they started work on the roll update.

The ward recorders and agents started work on the roll update in June 2021 and completed the work in January 2022.

But the recorders and agents are arguing that the electoral office had not supported in funding the roll update and they had been using their own funds or borrowing from service providers to complete the exercise; adding that the cost incurred was too much an expense and the electoral office needs to address the issues outlined and sort out their allowances including the added costs.

Mandoma says ward agents received only K300 whilst ward recorders were paid K700 which wasn’t what they were promised as per their contracts.

Mandoma says the temporary Election workers need to know the actual rate of the recorders and the agents and if there was a change to the rate.

Meanwhile, Phillip Yatukru of Middle Ramu District, says the temporary election workers used their own funds or on credit basis to carry out the roll update.

Adding, the K300 and K700 paid respectively to the ward recorders and agents is less than the expenses involved in the exercise.

Ward Recorder John Marleh, of North Ambenob in Madang District also expresses of non-payment of allowances and other services that were rendered on credit basis that will also pose a risk to election officers during polling.

Madang Election Manager, Sponsar Navi, says like any government departments even provincial governments rely on the national government.

Navi reaffirmed that the roll update was started last year. 

However, the PNG Electoral Head office has not given any funds to the Madang electoral office to carry out roll update.

Navi says this is a big issue that needs to be sorted out but the smooth running of the election involves collaboration from all stakeholders including ward recorders and agents.

The Madang Election Manager thanked the temporary election workers for the work done adding the electoral head office has assured Madang electoral office that funds will be sent to sort out the overdue allowances.

Navi adds, the funds will be paid into the electoral office account and then cash withdrawn to pay temporary election workers who do not have bank accounts.

Navi says he will need clarification from the electoral head office on ward recorders and agents who have been paid K300 and K700 respectively including risk allowance, as all operations carried out in preparation towards the election must always include K300 risk allowance.

Mr Navi claimed he was not aware that the ward recorders and the agents were paid K300 and K700 separately.

Meanwhile those who have engaged services on credit basis have to provide evidence to the electoral office to look into the cost incurred during the roll update exercise.

The temporary election workers gave Madang Electoral office two days to seek answers and sort out their grievances.

The ward recorders and agents will meet again on Thursday 10am at the Madang town station to deliberate on the matter.