REGION 10 Regional Democratic Councillors continue to agitate for increased stipends and the provision of a cell phone.The councillors made their concerns known to Regional Chairman Renis Morian at yesterday’s statutory meeting, where they reiterated that this promise must be fulfilled in 2016.

Those councilors currently receive $10,000 per month to facilitate their duties in serving the region. This, according to councillor Charles Sampson, is inadequate and should be increased.

In addition, the councillors are requesting cell phones, as they deem this a necessity in carrying out their duties. “It’s about time we get the cell phones, because monies have been passed for it and to date we cannot receive it,” argued Councillor Sampson.

In pleading with Chairman Renis Morian, councillors reminded him of his role as mediator between them and the Minister of Communities, Ronald Bulkhan, to have these issues expedited. “Mr. Chairman, you are the man to make representation for us, and you should make sure that, as your councillors, we should be treated better,” Sampson urged.

Responding, Morian asked the councillors to be patient, noting that local government election was imminent. He reminded them: “We are currently in waiting on the (holding of) local government elections, and at the conclusion of this process, these matters will be addressed.”

Morian also articulated that no other region had made such requests of government, especially for cell phones; and though he has engaged the Minister of Communities on the issue, he has been notified that the Office of the President needs to give clearance before such requests are met.

Money should not be a yardstick, said Councillor Sandra Adams, who is also Deputy Chairperson for the Community Development Council. She urged the councillors not to use their stipend as a yardstick to measure how much service they would give to Region 10.

She told them to recognise what it takes to be a councillor, and said they had not been forced to place their names on the list, but rather, they willingly took up the challenge during the campaign trail.

“No matter how much money you receive, you knew what you were getting into and you made a conscious agreement to serve the people; and therefore you should not look at your stipend at this time to decide what you will do as a councillor,” Adams charged.

The councillors, however, remained firm in their resolve not to give voluntary service, and they said they should be treated better.

Councillor George Callender said that ministers and Members of Parliament received salary increases after mere months of serving the people, and Region 10 councillors’ meagre stipend of $10,000 has not been increased in over a decade. Region 10 councillors also compared their stipends to those of toshaos and councillors of hinterland villages, whose job description is similar but who receive more money.

“For the councillors who are working, this may not be important to them, but for us who look forward to this $10,000 because that is our only means of income and we have monthly expenses, we need an increase,” declared Councillor Callender.

The Regional Chairman made it clear that he was not in disagreement with the request, and has made representation on the issue. He said he is urging councillors to be more proactive in their service to the region, as it would be counterproductive if they were to be remunerated for incompetent service.