**** Prime Minister Hon. Peter O'Neill wants village court salaries sorted out ****

Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill yesterday gave directions to two government offices to look into the issue of outstanding salaries for village court magistrates and councillor. Sinasina-Yongomugl MP Kerenga Kua had raised the issue in Parliament, saying village court magistrates and councillors had not been paid in the past 18 months. Mr Kua had asked Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill when the Government was going to pay these hard-working officers.

The questions were directed at Inter-government Relations Minister Leo Dion who was not in Parliament so Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill stood in to respond. He said that he would direct the Justice Department and Inter-Government Relations departments to look into the salaries for all the village court magistrates and councillors who had not been paid. Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill also said these workers should be commended for their sheer hard work in the rural areas. "I will certainly talk to him (Dion) and the responsible offices and give directions that these hardworking people are paid on a timely basis,” Prime Minister Hon. Peter O’Neill said.