Makira officers want their allowances now

Friday, 30 July 2010 10:23


KIRAKIRA police have expressed disappointment over non-responses to their request for touring allowances from their headquarters in Honiara.

Provincial Police Commander Fred Saeni said they are concerned their headquarters in Honiara did not respond to their request for the election money allocated for Makira police to be deposited to the accounts of Makira Electoral Office.

Mr Saeni said the money, allocated specifically for police duties in Makira, been channelled from the Electoral Commission Office to the Police Commissioner’s Office.

“We have raised our concerns to police headquarters regarding this payment but they have not given us a definite answer,” he said.

“They did not say whether the money will be sent to us through Makira Electoral Office or whether our officers would be paid their touring allowances at all before their deployment.”

Mr Saeni said his officers were hoping to get their touring allowances before being deployed oto their respective polling stations because they need this money to support them while out there in the remote areas.

“It is not always easy carrying food rations especially for officers deployed in the interior regions up in the mountains where they have to walk and so it is better they carry only cash to buy from the villagers up in the hills or along the remote coasts,” he said.

He further stressed that his officers were adamant to get their allowances now as they do not want a repeat of their experience in the 2006 elections.

“In 2006 my officers have worked hard to maintain peace throughout the province but they were never remunerated by police headquarters in Honiara until this day,” Mr Saeni said.

He added: “Those serving here are only low ranking officers who have had to undertake strenuous tasks under very extreme circumstances given the nature of work in rural areas and they deserve recognition by those senior officers in Honiara for their commitment to national obligations such as national elections”.

Despite the situation, Mr Saeni said his officers are fully prepared for their deployment which is expected this week.

“Whether we are paid our allowances or not the deployment of officers will continue as scheduled because we have a duty to this nation and its people,” he said.

He added his officers want their allowance sent via the Makira Electoral Office because they feared that they might not receive their allowances again if the funds remain in Honiara.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Secretary of Makira Province, Commines Ikioa has assured the officers that he would take up their concerns with the Electoral Commissions Office in Honiara.


By GEORGE SIAPU in Kirakira

[Source: http://www.solomonstarnews.com/]