Papua New Guinea’s Opposition Leader Namah aiming to be next prime minister
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Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea’s
Opposition Leader Namah aiming to be next prime minister
PORT MORESBY: Opposition Leader and incumbent Vanimo
Green MP Beldan Namah was nominated to defend his seat on Thursday (May 19,
2022) afternoon.
His PNG Party is
fielding a total of 81 candidates for the 118 Parliament seats up for grab in
General Election 2022 (GE22).
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few GE22 news updates as
published by The National:
Namah ready to defend his seat
May 23, 2022The NationalMain Stories
Namah addressing a
crowd of supporters in Vanimo town during his nomination to defend his seat on
Thursday. – Pictures supplied
OPPOSITION Leader and incumbent Vanimo Green MP Belden Namah
was nominated to defend his seat on Thursday afternoon.
With him to witness his nomination were other Papua New Guinea Party candidates
for West Sepik Regional, Daniel Yaman and Stanley Sabam (Wewak).
Namah told The National that he had advised all PNG Party
members to also file their nomination papers early.
Among those who have filed their nominations were Memafu Kapera (Moresby
North-West), Sabam (Wewak) and Yaman (West Sepik). Vanimo town was a sea of red
throughout the day, as supporters turned up in force to cheer on their leaders
with some even arriving in loaded lorries with the words “Namah for Prime
Minister”.
Of the 84 candidates endorsed by the party, a total of 81 (including Namah)
were nominated for their respective seats on Thursday.
Among them were two women.
Ex-MP’s attempt to
stop report denied
May 23, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
A JUDGE says that the
public has a right to know how its elected and appointed leaders use and abuse
public funds.
Judge Stephen Kassman said this was doubly important especially in an election
year when the public was deciding which leaders to vote for.
Kassman said this in the National Court in Kokopo, East New Britain, when
refusing former Kokopo MP Ereman ToBaining’s application to restrain Kokopo MP
Emil Tammur from publishing the audit review of the 2015 to 2016 Kokopo
services improvement programme (DSIP) funds.
He also noted that Tammur had waited until the eve of the general election to
deal with the audit report. ToBaining sought the order saying any publication
of the audit would defame him and infringe on his rights as a candidate for the
Kokopo Open seat.
He said the publication would have political and administrative implications
against him and amount to interference and intimidation or harassment on him.
ToBaining sought to restrain the audit from being published because in 2019 the
Finance Department’s internal audit compliance division had found that his
administration had awarded contracts to various companies, including his own
company M-Jovie Ltd.
In the application, ToBaining said he was informed that Tammur, on Jan 1, sent
a document titled “Kokopo District 2015 and 2016 DSIP Audit Review Information
Paper” to the Kokopo city authority board to consider it for public
consumption.
He asked the court to suppress that document from being publicised until after
the election.
Kassman said the case was based on allegations as there was no evidence before
the court.
“There is no evidence to indicate that ToBaining had wrote to Tammur demanding
him not to publish the audit report and Tammur refused to do so,” he said.
“The Finance Department secretary may have already taken steps to forward the
audit report to the police and the police might have already considered it.
“I am not satisfied that ToBaining has identified his substantive course of
action other than claiming his Constitutional rights to stand for public
office.”
Ex-MP Potape withdraws suit against EC
FORMER Hela governor
Francis Potape has withdrawn his suit against the Electoral Commissioner (EC)
Simon Sinai and Hela returning officer (RO) John Tipa after the appointment
document was provided.
Potape filed the suit challenging Tipa’s appointment, alleging that Sinai had
not made a new appointment because Tipa was also Hela’s RO in general election
2017.
On May 13, the court ordered the Electoral Commission to provide the documents
of the appointments of ROs for this year’s election to prove that new appointments
were made.
Sinai, through his lawyer, served Potape and the others (election hopefuls for
Komo-Margarima Tuguyawini Peter Philip, Tari-Pori Justin Haiara and Ramond Kua)
the national gazette containing Tipa’s appointment in affidavit last Monday.
Potape’s lawyer Paul Harry further wanted to obtain a restraining order on
Sinai’s decision of appointing Tipa and to file a judicial review.
Deputy Chief Justice Ambeng Kandakasi responded that this could not be done on
a defective application and if he wished to do so, to file a new writ.
“If there is a question of the appointment of ROs, the proceeding must be filed
for judicial review,” he said.
“People with integrity and impartiality must be appointed into such position to
reduce those last-minute pressures in court and all the related parties.”
Kandakasi said the commission delivered once in every five years and must be
prepared in advance.
PNC refields Rufina for Central
Rufina Peter, PNC’s
woman candidate contesting the Central Regional seat, O’Neill and former
Kairuku-Hiri MP Paru Aihi at Hisiu village over the weekend. – Pictures
supplied
By AILEEN KWARAGU and
YVONNE KAMBIBEL
PEOPLE’S National
Congress (PNC)’s Rufina Peter was nominated to try and wrest Central for her
party in the general election 2022.
It will be Rufina’s second bid for the seat after losing in the last election
(2017).
“I joined PNC because its policies are in line with what I wish to do for
Central,” she said.
“The party’s maturity and leader (O’Neill) have motivated me to strive on
politically.”
Rufina said focusing on socio-economic developments in the local level
governments and the district wards would be her priorities.
“Public infrastructure and public utilities have been lacking for years,” she
added.
Rufina said finishing among the top five in 2017 had taught her to be prepared
for this year’s election.
“It (2017) was a great experience for me,” she said.
“It has moulded me as a positive-thinking candidate for the end-game,” she
added.
Meanwhile, former Kairuku-Hiri MP Paru Aihi was nominated on Thursday with
other hopefuls to contest the new Kairuku Open seat.
Former prime minister
and PNC party leader Peter O’Neill (middle wearing fedora hat) surrounded by
supporters at Hisiu village, Kairuku, Central over the weekend.
Aihi, who is contesting for the fifth time,
said the constituents had suffered enough in the past decade.
“Things have deteriorated,” he added.
Aihi, a former banker turned businessman, first contested in 2002 and was
runner-up to long-time MP Sir Moi Ave whom he beat in the 2007.
He won again in 2012 but lost his seat to incumbent MP Peter Isoaimo in a
by-election in 2014 after going to court following allegations of election
bribery.
Aihi was the higher education, research, science and technology minister under
late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare from March-August 2011 and education
minister under O’Neill from Aug-Dec 2012.
He was the man who delivered the Free Education Policy in 2012 and was
determined to win back his seat and continue his work but lost to Isoaimo.
He is contesting against Isoaimo and other challengers on a PNC ticket.
May 23, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
POLICE Commissioner
David Manning has ordered his men and women to enforce strict traffic laws on
general election 2022 candidates for people’s safety.
“Overloading of vehicles is a traffic offence which candidates and their
supporters must be mindful of,” he said.
“People should not get excited of following their candidates to nomination
centres because overloading can cause accidents.
“Candidates will not want to be burdened with dealing with haus krai or
compensating supporters’ families due to the reckless practice and behaviour.”
Manning also appealed to the public to observe all other traffic rules.
“Our laws are not suspended during general elections,” he said.
“There should be heavy presence to ensure laws are abided by the public.”
He warned that the end result of overloading vehicles could be falling off
vehicles and “they will be entirely responsible for themselves”.
Manning said he had observed that many candidates and supporters flocked to
nomination centres on overloaded vehicles and trucks last week.
Last week, National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu
appealed to candidates to be considerate and respect traffic rules.
He also urged them to inform his office their schedules to nomination centres
so that police were prepared with security measures.
259 candidates for Chimbu registered
By ZACHERY PER
BY the end of the second day of nominations on Saturday, 259 candidates were
registered to contest in Chimbu in general election 2022.
Provincial elections manager Reverend Tom Sine said six women were among those
nominated, three for the provincial seat and the other three were for Gumine,
Chuave and Salt-Nomane Karamui Open seats.
“It was a peaceful nomination exercise for the six open seats and the
provincial seat,” he added.
Sine appealed to candidates and supporters to maintain the peaceful start to
the electoral process to the end of the general election.
“There is a good number of prominent citizens registered to contest, including current
and former Members of Parliament,” he said.
Incumbent Chuave MP Wera Mori is defending his Chuave seat for a third
consecutive term.
He said he would not be contesting in 2027, if he wins again.
He is facing 23 challengers this time around.
PNG National Party leader and Petroleum Minister Kerenga Kua filed his
nominations at Kamtai district office to defend his Sinasina-Yongumugl seat and
is also looking for his third-consecutive term.
Kua will face 26 aspiring young politicians including former National AIDS
Council director Dr Mawa Dala.
Nominations for Kundiawa-Gembogl was smooth with 30 candidates and their
supporters turning up in truck loads to file their nominations.
Agarobe hopes to continue plans in Central
By AILEEN KWARAGU
CENTRAL Governor
Robert Agarobe plans to continue the Smart Central plan when and if he returns
for the 12th National Parliament.
Defending his seat under the Pangu Pati, Agarobe said his focus would be on
economy independence for the province as exercised through his “one crop per
district” concept. “The party (Pangu) has not been about political independence
thus it has always been about economic independence,” he said.
Agarobe said his term over the last five years had been challenging and he had
been driven to improve all sectors of the province through a plan.
He said creating the plan two years ago had forced them to pass a budget in
2020 that was in line with policies aimed at promoting development in Central.
Agarobe was among 11 regional candidates that nominated on Thursday at Bautama.
Other candidates included second timers, Rufina Peter and Boe Eno Daera and
eight new comers to the race.
Women put up hands to contest seats in Morobe,
Northern
FIVE women will contest seats in Northern
while three have put up their hands for seats in Morobe as nominations for the
2022 General Election began in earnest on Thursday.
In Port Moresby, Moresby North-East returning officer Billy George said he
expected nominations for the seat to be more than the 55 that were recorded for
the 2017 election.
Of the five Oro women running for office, former Sohe MP Delilah Gore and
People’s National Congress candidate is recontesting the seat she lost in 2017.
Former provincial executive council member Deborah Emboge is running as an
independent for the new Popondetta Open seat.
The other three women are former acting Chief Ombudsman Pheobe Sangetari
(United Labour Party), Jean Eparo and Esmie Sinapa – both independent
candidates – who are among 17 other candidates taking on incumbent Gary Juffa
for the Northern regional seat.
In Morobe, Jennifer Baing, daughter of former Markham MP Andrew Baing, will
contest the regional seat under the People’s Movement For Change banner along
with Sheila Pati Harou, a former acting provincial administrator, running for
the same seat under National Alliance while PNG Party’s Gengewe Neritha Ganzik will
contest the Markham Open.
The women were part of 49 nominations recorded so far for Morobe.
Former Morobe governor and People’s Labour Party’s Luther Wenge was the first
to nominate for the regional seat.
George told The National that over the last two days the
electorate had already received 40 nominations including three from women.
He said 34 candidates had nominated on Thursday alone after some confusion and
delay that saw the nominating daily closing time pushed to 7pm from the normal
4pm.
George explained a large number of candidates turned up on the first day
because of the confusion caused by the deferral of the date.
“By looking at 2017 nominations with a total of 55 candidates, there are likely
to be more.”
Candidates are to refrain from campaigning until after Thursday.
More women MPs needed:
PM
May 23, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
PRIME Minister James
Marape says Papua New Guinea needs more women MPs in the 11th Parliament.
He said this after at least 21 women have been nominated to contest in the
general election after the first day of nominations on Thursday.
“I am happy to see and hear that many women have been nominated to contest for
seats nationwide.
“They have taken the bold step of raising their hands, give them the
opportunity to speak during campaigns. Pangu Pati has endorsed eight women
candidates,” he said.
In Northern, five women filed their nominations. They are former Sohe MP
Delilah Gore who lost in GE17, and is contesting on a People’s National
Congress Party (PNC) ticket.
The three other women are former acting Chief Ombudsman Pheobe Sangetari, who
is contesting under the United Labour Party, and Jean Eparo and Esmie Sinapa
are Independents.
In NCD, at least six women have been nominated to contest in various seats.
Three women are among the 35 election hopefuls who filed their nominations to
contest in Moresby North-East. They are women are Tania Bale (People’s Party),
Diane Unagi (United Labour Party) and Quina Ongugo (Independent).
Michelle Hau’Ofa (People’s Party) is contesting in Moresby-South, businesswoman
Sylvia Pascoe (NCD regional) and former Community Development, Youth and
Religion Department secretary Anna Bais (People’s Party) is contesting in
Moresby North-West.
In Morobe, the three women contesting for the provincial seat are Sheila Pati
Harou (National Alliance), Jennifer Baing (Peoples Movement for Change) and
Gengewe Neritha Ganzik for Markham open (PNG Party).
Baing, 42, was non-governmental organisation Save PNG’s executive director,
Harou, 57, is the Social Performance and External Affairs manager with
Wafi-Golpu joint venture and Ganzik, 38, is self-employed. Harou was a former
acting provincial administrator.
In West New Britain, former provincial community development adviser Celine Uma
is contesting the regional seat. Former Bali Vitu LLG officer Gertrude Vitolo
is running for Talasea Open.
Other notable women election hopefuls are Dulciana Somare, the daughter of
founding father the late Sir Michael Somare, former Eastern Highlands governor
Julie Soso, and former National Alliance general-secretary Joyce Grant.
Julie is contesting the Eastern Highlands regional, a seat she lost in the GE17
to incumbent governor Peter Numu and Joyce is contesting Kiriwina-Goodenough.
Both are contesting under the National Alliance party.
Dulciana is a first-timer in Angoram and is representing the United Labour
party after she had contested in the East Sepik regional seat in 2017.
- (Refer to The National’s
list of candidates on Link: https://www.thenational.com.pg/namah-ready-to-defend-his-seat/.)
Police set up five command centres
POLICE have set up
five command centres in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB), Police
Commissioner David Manning says.
“One of the centres commenced operations in the weekend,” he said.
He said the centres would receive daily reports of general election-related
incidents.
He said the centres would be used as a trial for police during campaign period.
“When the period of polling comes, police should have a robust reporting system
in place, giving timely information” he added.
Manning said the national coordination centre had been set up in Morauta Haus
in Port Moresby.
“The centres has been staffed by all the relevant agencies comprising the Papua
New Guinea Defence Force, Correctional Services and personnel from New Zealand
and Australian Defence Force.”
Former commander contesting seat to help
youths
Mark Mosinakave with
his horse which he rode it onto Unagi Park on Friday as a show of strength that
he is contesting the Moresby North-East seat.FORMER Gordon police
station commander Inspector Mark Mosinakave, 46, is contesting the Moresby
North-East seat to support youths and address law and order issues.
On Thursday he filed his nomination running under the United Resources Party
(URP) banner and on Friday rode in on a white horse at Unagi Oval, the
nomination area.
“In the last 20 years of my career as a policeman, the majority of people
locked up in cells are youths.
“Deterrence is not the answer to law and order, youths will still continue to
resort to crime.
“A lot of them say they steal to survive. I have assisted many of them with
money from my own pocket to start up little small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
“All they need is start-up capital to get into the informal sector and make
ends meet for themselves.
“I want to unleash their talents in informal sector.
“If the youths can be assisted in this manner we will reduce the crime rates in
the cities and urban centres,” he said.
Mosinakave told The National that some of the youths he
assisted had now become small businessmen in their communities.
Mosinakave from Banz, Jiwaka, is married with three children and lives at
Bomana outside Port Moresby.
Mosinakave was among the 35 candidates who nominated on Thursday.
Nominations are continuing and will end on Thursday.
Micah’s wife to
contest election
May 23, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Micah failed to defend his seat in 2017 general election.
Maryanne said her late husband always stood for economic empowerment and human
resources development when he was MP and before his passing in March.
Maryanne Millie
“Micah was planning to
recontest the seat. But my husband’s dream will live as I am ready to step in,”
she added.
“Men have been dominating in Kavieng and New Ireland for 45 years but I feel we
need to change. This is a good opportunity for me,” she added.
“My late husband did his best when he was an MP. Other MPs have done their bit
as well but I still think we have not done enough and there is a need for
leadership change.
“The economy in Kavieng is dead. We need to revive tourism which is the key. We
call New Ireland “bilas peles” a place that can attract more tourists every
year but that is not happening to a level we all expect,” she said.
Maryanne said human resources development and good governance were still
lacking and change was needed.
Maryanne hails from Tikana and Micah from Murat.
“I am happy that the traditional leaders of those two LLGs have thrown in their
support. It will be a very tough contest for me against the men but I am
ready,” she said.
You can trust me to look after your future:
Bird
East Sepik Governor
Allan Bird at Suambukau outside Wewak on Saturday. Bird is keen on supporting
the hardworking rural people.
TRANSPARENCY, honesty
and a public service aimed at empowering East Sepik were what he stood for in
the last general election, incumbent Governor Allan Bird says.
Bird, who filed his nomination in Wewak on Thursday to contest the regional
seat, urged the East Sepik people to show support through the ballot so he
could complete what he had started.
He won the regional seat in 2017 under the National Alliance (NA) banner.
Speaking during a joint National Alliance and Pangu Party rally in Maprik on
Friday, Bird said he had always wanted to achieve development for the Greater
Sepik region (East and West Sepik) and not just his province.
“My only interest is in moving the Sepik region forward by supporting the hard
working rural people so that every citizen has an equal opportunity. Sepik
should be for all of us, not just the privileged few,” he said.
“You can trust me to look after your future. Let me finish what I started in
2018.”
Bird also remarked about how he was too lenient on those who allegedly
misappropriated public funds in the province over time.
Bird also announced the party’s candidate for the Wewak open seat, Adrian Kum,
on Saturday.
AFP assists police with body-worn cameras
By JAMIE HARO
POLICE interaction
with the public can be recorded following the presentation of body-worn cameras
from the Australian Federal Police on Friday.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Jamie Strauss presented six camera kits to Police
Commissioner David Manning in the presence of police personnel through the
PNG-Australian Policing Partnership initiative.
“This tech provides accountability to police officers and their interactions
with the public and record accurate events which can be used as evidence, it
can also be used during elections and post-election period,” Asst Comm Strauss
said.
He said each kit consists of two pall-tin cases and contains, 16 body-worn
cameras, two docking stations, one dock controller, one solid-state drive (SSD)
laptop and a data storage technology (DST) Storage capability that can be used
anywhere.
In addition, Asst Comm Strauss said: “The body-worn cameras can be operated
through the wider network using mobile technology, it can operate as a soft
contained packages, transportable over rough terrain and used independently
from communication networks in remote areas as well.”
Commissioner of Police David Manning said: “These body-worn cameras will now
allow us to be more accountable and help improve our operations when it comes
to dealing with public.”
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