No stopping of LLG Act that compels officials to step down if they choose to contest in general elections
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
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No stopping of LLG Act that compels officials to step down
if they choose to contest in general
elections
PORT MORESBY: The Supreme Court has dismissed an
application by a council president to stop the Local Level Government (Amended)
Act 2022 that disqualifies the current councilors and council presidents from
contesting general elections.
Justice Derek Hartshorn dismissed
Western Highlands’ Dei president John Wamp’s application yesterday (May 16,
2022), and ruled the stay application sought did not satisfy the court by law.
Meanwhile, Papua New
Guinea (PNG) electoral commissioner Simon Sinai announced that the
two-week-long nominations for General Election 2022 (GE22) would start on
Thursday (May 19, 2022) and close on May 26, 2022.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few news updates on GE22 as reported by The National:
May 17, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Justice Derek Hartshorn, when dismissing the application by Dei Western
Highlands council president John Wamp yesterday, said the stay application
sought did not satisfy the court by law.
“I am not satisfied that Wamp has raised serious questions of law in the
application,” he said.
Justive Hartshorn said Section 14B of the Local Level Government Amended Act
2022 Wamp sought to stop, did not restrict LLG members but gave choice.
“A person who is already a member of a LLG has to make a choice whether to
continue as LLG member or to be nominated to contest in the general election,”
he said.
“The Act does not restrict anyone from the opportunity to contest for the
general election. In the interest of justice, I’m not satisfied that Wamp has
raised serious questions on constitution.”
Wamp through his lawyer Desmond Kipa sought to stop Local Level Government
amended Act 2022 Section 14B saying that it had affected the rights of the LLG
members from holding public office.
Section 14B of the Act which said upon nomination of LLG member for general election,
they must be ceased from being LLG members.
Kipa in the application said that section of the amended Act was harsh or
unfair in the democratic society.
Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa representing Attorney-General Pila Ninigi
argued that the application had no proper legal grounds.
Meanwhile, Tanuvasa had applied to intervene for the Attorney General Ninigi to
be part of the matter as the State legal adviser and was granted.
Party backs only woman candidate in Kairuku
open
A POLITICAL party has
endorsed the only female candidate to contest the Kairuku Open seat in the 2022
general election.
Madonna Aoae, the daughter of former Kairuku-Hiri MP Joseph Aoae, is the only
woman out of 54 candidates who has nominated to contest.
Aoae was endorsed by the New Generation Party.
Party president James Kond said women’s participation in politics showed that
they had the leadership qualities to deliver for the people if elected into
Parliament.
“For a nation like PNG, I think it’s time we give some leadership roles to our
women,” he said.
“And let them exercise their leadership skills and knowledge.
“We have women around who are potential leaders but they just need support and
exposure.
“For us, we’ve realise that gender equality is vital for balanced development
of the country that’s why we’ve decide to endorse Madonna.”
Aoae thanked the party for its endorsement.
“With the background I have in politics, I have raised my hand to contest and I
thank the party for stepping in and assisting me,” she said.
Association urges teachers in polling to be careful
Coronation Primary
School teachers in the National Capital District filling duty resumption form
earlier this year. Teachers involved as elections officials were urged to be
careful with their conducts.
Papua New Guinea
Teachers Association (PNGTA) has urged teachers who would be involved as
election officials to be careful with their conducts.
The association said it would not help teachers in trouble, therefore, they had
to show good practices while performing their duties.
General-secretary David Numbaming said the decision for teachers to be
scrutinisers, polling and counting officials or assistant returning officers
would be their own.
“Teachers can exercise their democratic rights and be involved, however, the
PNGTA, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and the Education Department have
nothing to do with teachers’ appointments to participate as election officials
as all appointments would be made by the Electoral Commission,” he said.
“Teachers must take full responsibility of themselves and avoid any misconduct
that would interfere with their teaching careers or attract chaos and
destruction to their schools.”
He said those teachers involved should not to have personal affiliations with
intending candidates or sitting MPs because that would lead to conflict of
interest and they could find themselves in trouble.
Barker warns of election risks as security
forces stretched out
LAW enforcement agencies are stretched in the
lead-up to this general election, says Institute of National Affairs executive
director Paul Barker.
Reacting to recent fighting around the country, Barker said many of these
fights were from long-standing conflicts but exaggerated by resource benefit
distribution complaints, envy, alcohol abuse, accidents and the presence of
more firearms.
“The election certainly risks adding fuel to the fire, although under the LPV
(limited preferential voting) system, conflict has been largely subdued at the
voting stage, occurring in some electorates after the preferences are counted,”
he said. “The practice of some candidates using groups of youths to facilitate
the process for them can be both illegal and intimidating, and became more
prevalent in 2017, even away from the provinces with more problems in the past.
“At the end of the day, peace requires a commitment by the whole community,
thinking of the present and seeking a harmonious future for everyone, including
everyone’s children for the future.
“The village court magistrates and constables play a critical role at the
community level, but neither they, nor the police can address all issues if
society is fractured.
“The political and community leaders need to play a critical role in supporting
the rule of law as a platform in their own campaigns and performances, while
the authorities, together with church and civil society leaders, backed by
development partners, need to facilitate effective ways for nipping prospective
conflicts in bud before they get out of hand.”
Commission sets poll
timeline
May 17, 2022The NationalMain Stories
With nominations to close on May 26, this would ensure a two-week grace period
for United Labour Party to elect a new party leader and to reorganise their
campaign while also providing other parties sufficient time to prepare.
Additionally, the reshuffling of dates had meant pushing forward the polling
period a week earlier to July 2 from July 9, giving voters an extra week but
also meaning that returning officers and assistant returning officers would be
working around the clock to ensure polling and counting would be completed on
time.
“Increasing the polling period by starting on July 2, instead of July 9, would
provide additional time to the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) to conduct
polling and start counting earlier,” he said. “More time is also provided to
ensure that the scrutiny and count following the polling in each electorate is
conducted and that the writ be returned on or before July 29,” he said.
The extension would also give the PNGEC more time to complete the creation of
new electoral rolls for the seven new electorates.
“I am invoking the authority of the Electoral Commission under section 79(2) on
the date of polling to decrease the mandated period between the issuance of the
writs and the start of polling from eight to seven weeks due to special
circumstances.”
The current polling period runs from July 9 to July 22, for a total of 14 days
which leaves seven days from the end of the polling period to the return of
writs on July 29.
Proposed amended dates for the electoral calendar are:
- ISSUE of writs/nominations
open: May 12 at 4pm;
- NOMINATIONS close: May 26 at
4pm;
- POLLING period starts: July 2;
- POLLING period ends: July 22;
- RETURN of writs on or before:
July 29 at 4pm.
New Generation Party names 54 candidates to contest seats
Remembering Basil …
Bulolo MP and Deputy Prime Minister the late Sam Basil (right) sharing a light
moment with people at Gabensis before launching second phase sealing of
Muniau-Gabensis road last month. – Nationalpic by EHEYUC SESERU
By MICHAEL PHILIP
THE New Generation
Party has endorsed 54 candidates to contest in all the provinces in this year’s
general election with their key policy being youth empowerment.
President James Kond during the party launching recently said they wanted to
form a government that listened to the cry of youths and created better
opportunities to empower their lives.
“Our slogan says it all: ‘Today’s children for tomorrow’s future’,” he said.
“Children are the future leaders of tomorrow and their grooming to become so
called leaders starts today.
“At New Generation party, we want to form a government that will hear the cry
of our youths.
“The future of this nation lies on this young generation.
“As leaders we have to play our part today so they have a brighter future
tomorrow.”
In 2007, the New Generation party was formed by George Leahy and Bart Philemon and
took part in the 2007 general election for the first time.
This year, the party has appointed non-parliamentary leader Dr Sam Kari as
party leader.
Kari will contest against former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in the
Ialibu-Pangia open electorate.
Meanwhile, Kond also announced the endorsement of their youngest candidate
Israel Luluaki who will contest against the current East Sepik Governor Allan
Bird in the East Sepik regional seat.
He said their party policies would be developed out from the country’s
development goals and would be announced during each party launching in the
respective provinces where their candidates would contest.
Sir J slams deferral of election
New Ireland Governor
Sir Julius Chan says the deferral of general election, issuing of writs and
nomination dates must never be repeated again in the future.
He said the recent deferrals had thrown the nation off course and had created a
worrying precedent.
Sir Julius, 82, will be running again for the New Ireland governor’s seat.
“Our Constitution is clear – the dates have been set,” the former prime
minister (1980-1982 and 1994-1997) said.
“We should not have any excuses.
“Our future leaders must never go down this path again.
“We had five years to prepare.
“Within that period the Electoral Commission had one simple task, to ensure the
electoral roll was up to date.
“Yet here we are, late again.
“But this time worse than previous years.”
Sir Julius urged the PNG Electoral Commission to ensure it selected neutral
returning officers.
“The Electoral Commissioner must be the guardian of our electoral laws, he must
never be influenced by politicians and ensure the entire system is free of
corruption.
“He must stick to the Constitution.”
Commissioner says elections will be difficult
ELECTORAL Commissioner Simon Sinai says
delivering the general election will be difficult, hence, cooperation from
everyone is needed.
Speaking to the media yesterday when announcing the final dates of the general
election, Sinai said this election was more challenging.
“We are going to work under tremendous pressure,” he said.
“(This include) time pressure and (delivery) of materials.
“It is not easy to run 96 electorates and 22 provincial electorates in the
country.
“I am not getting scared of running the election, I am not saying it is hard.
“I am saying it is going to be difficult.”
Sinai said those who thought it was easy and were saying this and that were not
done had to understand that practically, it was difficult to run the election.
He said urged everyone that would be working in the election space to do what
they were supposed to do.
He called on the returning officers to be transparent and impartial in their
decisions according to the guides that had been prepared for them.
He also called on the people to understand that the returning officers and
assistant returning officers were public servants tasked to help the Electoral
Commission and they would not control anything.
Officers to vote
before deployment
May 17, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
DEPUTY Commissioner
for Police Operations Anton Billie says he will arrange with the Electoral
Commission to ensure all security personnel casts their votes before
deployment.
He said this would ensure that all 11,500 security personnel exercised their
democratic right before providing security for the 2022 general election.
Billie said there was a special arrangement made with the Electoral Commission
concerning how they would vote.
“I told all the security personnel which is inclusive of the 1,000 PNGDF
soldiers and 500 Correctional officers to give their names to their respective
commanders who will pass it on to me for them to vote,” he said.
Billie added that so far, no lists had been submitted to his office for
verification on the special voting arrangement.
“The list of names should be submitted to my office by this week so that the
Electoral Commission can be aware of the locations that security personnel will
be casting their votes in before leaving for duty,” he said.
“Eleven thousand five hundred (11,500) is a very big number of security
personnel that would be deployed for election operations and I want to ensure
them that they will still vote for their leaders.
“They have to vote the leader of their choice just like all the citizens of
this country and I will like to make it easier and possible for them so they
will not miss voting while on deployment.”
Billie added that in the past elections, most of the security personnel did not
cast their votes as they were deployed to provide security in other provinces
and that had been a concern.
“I want to make it fair for our security personnel so they can vote as it is
their democratic their right as they are also PNG citizens.”
PNG at a crossroads, leadership must keep up
with changing times: Diro
PAPUA New Guinea is at
the cross roads and needs a paradigm shift in leadership, founder and chairman
of People’s Action Party Ted Diro says.
Diro said the environment and culture was rapidly changing and a new style of
leadership was needed.
“The nation gravely needs a leadership that is void of domination and fashioned
by the environment,” the 78-year-old said.
“These men and women in leadership must be products of the environment but
vessels made by God’s grace and power.”
Diro said the nation was facing social, environmental, health and economic,
challenges and in the era of mass communication attitudes and ideologies were
also being shaped.
“We need uncompromising, fearless leadership, men (and women) who understand
the times with knowledge of what PNG should do and understand the destiny of
this nation,” country’s first military commander said.
“This election presents a unique opportunity to reform, reconstruct and
modernise an environment of historical connectivity as respected partners in
this world today.”
Police to election hopefuls: Be wary of
robbers
Madang acting superintendent
Mazuc Rubiang is warning those who are in possession of the 2022 general
election nomination fees to take extra precaution.
“Be more alert and wary of suspicious people following you to the nomination
centres,” he said.
Rubiang also urged those filing to contest in the election with their
supporters to respect one another throughout campaigning and polling.
“Please behave when you and your supporters are moving around in truck loads,”
he said.
Rubiang said drivers who overload trucks during the nomination and campaigning
periods would be arrested and charged with overloading.
He said candidates or party supporters on trucks must refrain from shouting of
causing a nuisance of themselves in public, as reported in pervious general
elections.
“If candidates cannot or fail to control their supporters, the police will stop
them from accompanying them to the nomination centres and also on their
campaign rounds.”
NCDC licensing committee to impose alcohol ban
in city
THE National Capital
District (NCD) licensing committee says a liquor ban will be imposed in the
National Capital District at different periods during the general election.
Licensing committee chairman Sir Luciano Cragnolini in a public notice last
Friday said a liquor ban in the nation’s capital would be imposed two weeks
prior (July 15) to the polling day (July 29) and three days after the polling
day (Aug 1).
Sir Luciano said the ban applied to categorised licensed premises; stores,
bottle shops, dealers, taverns, public bars in limited hotels and publicans and
cabaret permit venues.
He said the categories of licensed premises exempted from the ban are;
- RESTAURANTS: Sales and disposal
of liquor allowed to diners and guests in conjunction with a meal;
- CLUBS: Restricted to members
and their guests only; and,
- LIMITED hotels and publicans
(pubs).
Sir Luciano said
normal business operations would resume on the fourth day (Aug 2) after the
completion of polling.
Ready to serve … St
John Ambulance is ready for the elections in the National Capital District
(NCD), says acting assistant director ambulance operations Terence Torea. Torea
said with the addition of a new ambulance by the Moresby North-West development
authority, they now had six ambulances in operation. He said they still needed
to give a quotation to the NCD Commission for their operations as there were
plans to sanction two of their vehicles for exclusive use during polling. When
asked if St John would extend its services to Central, especially during the
elections, Torea said Central now had its own health authority but if they
needed their assistance, “they would have to send a formal request to the NCD
health authority where our services fall under”. Pictured is Moresby North West
MP Lohia Boe Samuel (middle) with district officials, St John Ambulance staff and
police officials during the handing over of the ambulance to St John recently.
– Nationalpic by YVONNE KAMBIBEL
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