Prime Minister James Marape gave assurance that his government is keen on delivering the Local Level Government (LLG) Elections and By-Elections in the respective Provinces in 2025. After a meeting with Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai, Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Soroi Eoe, Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey, Department of Finance Secretary Samuel Penias and Secretary for National Planning Koney Samuel, PM Marape said the respective revised Elections schedules will be announced soon. “The Electoral Commission, Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs and relevant authorities will be given the financial and other necessary support that they need to conduct the LLG Elections and By-Elections, which had to be deferred for convenience purposes, given other major related events last year such as the National Census. My government will ensure to deliver the LLG Elections and the outstanding By-Elections in specific Districts or Provinces in due course,” PM Marape said. In assuring the nation of the Government’s plans to deliver the Elections, he also urged the respective Provincial Governments and District Authorities to take responsibility in ensuring smooth delivery of the LLG Elections or By-Elections. “We as a Government will provide the necessary resources required for the Elections. However, the onus is also upon the Provincial Governments and District Authorities to co-operate and assist the responsible central agencies of Government who will be working to successfully deliver the Elections as planned,” he said. Mr. Marape is calling for free, fair and non-violent elections, as the Government prepares to conduct the LLG Elections and By-Elections. “My government appreciates the importance of the Local Level Government, and the key function it plays in our country’s governance system. It is the level of Government that deals directly with our people in the village communities throughout our country. “We greatly value the LLG level of Government in our country and, therefore, our government has for the first time in our nation’s history enabled Ward Councilors and LLG Presidents to be on Government Payroll. This is a significant step forward for our nation, as far as empowering our people and enabling efficient delivery of services to our local communities is concerned. “Therefore, I call on our people throughout the country to ensure good leaders are elected during the LLG Elections. Make wise choices through your votes, thus enabling community leaders who have shown promising leadership and can be able to adjudicate well on community issues and problems,” he said. “I appeal to our people far and wide to utilize this electoral process in the LLG Elections well to have good order in our communities. So, at the conclusion of this LLG electoral process, we want to make sure that we have quality leadership put in place to serve our people with due diligence,” he added.