Internal Affairs to act on LMC Independent Report

An Independent Report has been produced on

the affairs of Luganville Municipality and Minister for Internal Affairs, Charlot Salwai, says he is about act on it to upgrade the Administration of the Council in line with a number of recommendations highlighted in the report.

One of the areas highlighted is a lack of professional management of the affairs of the Council.

Contrary to the Opposition’s criticism of his involvement in the recruitment of the four new workers, as highlighted in the last issue, the Minister says, “I was merely endorsing the recruitment of the workers who were recommended by the majority of the Councillors of Luganville Municipality.

“I must add that the names of certain individuals including Jacques Tronquet were not included in the list they sent to me so the Opposition seems to also interfere in the affairs of the Council and this has to stop forthwith”.

The Minister warns that the independent report has made certain recommendations and the Clerk who is a public servant, also made some reports. “I am aware of a political appointee who has moved into the offices of LMC and that needs immediate addressing”, the Minister says.

“Opposition activists cannot look for an easy way out while there is none; they must keep out of the Council and allow it to work to provide service delivery to the public of Luganville”.

Pressed to say if he is going to act on the report soon, he replies, “I will act on the recommendations, now the LMC is very much lacking in qualified human resources as well as a relevant budget while they are spending more than they collect”.

The Minister also criticizes the Council for hiring private lawyers to work for them saying the councillors are standing on the back of the turtle and they should know what to do.

“I have enough reasons to take action against LMC but instead I will be writing to the Mayor to carry out his duties in line with the recommendations in the report,” the minister says.

“I hope the councillors and especially MPs in Luganville, do not continue to interfere in the affairs of both the Council and the Government because the Opposition has tried all it could, without success, to topple the present Government.”

The minister says the Opposition is looking for an easy way out to destabilize the Government but there is none.

“They do not have the numbers to topple the Government and we in the Government do not need them either,” he says.