With law and order issues escalating at uncontrollable levels at village and ward levels in Rabaul District of East New Britain Province, the establishment of ward development committees (WDC) is timely says Rabaul District Administrator, Benedict Mode.
He was speaking at the swearing in ceremony for WDC officials for the Kombiu LLG at Waterhouse Junior High School at Gelagela on Friday (Nov 25).
Rabaul District now has successfully established 47 WDCs for its total of 49 wards situated in the four LLGs of Rabaul Urban, Watom, Balanataman and Kombiu.
Two wards namely Pilapila in Balanataman and Korere ward two in Kombiu, did not have their WDC swearing in following recent deaths of their ward members. They will await by-election next year.
He said the WDC mentoring training and swearing in at this time is very critical and highly timely because the ward governance units and leadership at this level is becoming weaker resulting in law and order issues. He cited the continuous fights and unrest among youths in the communities.
Mr Mode reminded WDC officials they have sworn oath to serve the government and must identify and manage minimum standards in their wards with the assistance of LLG and District Administrations.
He said it is also important for the District and LLG administrations to lock in budgets and programs to include ward governance and development programs.
This includes preparing leadership and laying foundation for good governance at wards level as they will be participating and preparing next 5 years development rolling plans for the ward level up to the LLG and district for this term of parliament 2023-2027.