PM Marape: I will quit if …
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PM Marape: I will quit
if …
PORT MORESBY: Prime Minister James Marape says he will
resign as Tari-Pori MP if his ruling Pangu Pati fails to form the Government
after General Election 2022 (GE22).
“I will then return home
to live with my people. In 15 years, I could not bring much change. But in
three years as prime minister, and working with like-minded leaders … we have
brought (positive) change,” he told a crowd after his nomination papers were
accepted by the election Returning Officer (RO).
Marape was among scores
of politicians who filed their nomination papers nationwide on the first day of
nominations yesterday to contest in GE22.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few news updates on GE22 as published by The National:
PM’s gauntlet
May 20, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
PRIME Minister James Marape
says he will resign as Tari-Pori MP if his ruling Pangu Pati fails to form the
Government after general election 2022.
“I will then return home to live with my people. In 15 years, I could not bring
much change. But in three years as prime minister, and working with like-minded
leaders … we have brought (positive) change,” he told a crowd after his
nomination papers were accepted by the election returning officer (RO).
Marape was among scores of politicians who filed their nomination papers
nationwide on the first day of nominations yesterday to contest in the general
election.
He was nominated to defend Tari-Pori after he arrived at the nomination centre
at 2pm with Governor Philip Undialu, Pangu Pati president Eri Singin and
secretary Morris Tovaebae.
Marape was nominated at 2.20pm in front of a huge crowd and his papers were
confirmed in order and accepted by returning officer Willie Kara at 2.27pm.
“I wish to thank the people of Tari-Pori for coming to witness my nomination.
“I am seeking re-election for the fifth time.
“In 2002, I first contested in a general election and I came in second.
“Then, I was elected in 2007, 2012 and 2017.
“Today, I am here to defend Tari-Pori again and for the first time as prime
minister.
“Thank you for your support.
“For believing in me and giving me your mandate,” he added.
In 2017, Marape won in an 18-corner contest.
Marape thanked Pangu executives for being present with him and said Pangu would
be fielding 70 candidates nationwide.
Marape was the eighth candidate to be nominated to contest Tari-Pori.
In Ialibu-Pangia, incumbent MP Peter O’Neill filed his nomination form in
Pangia yesterday.
In 2017, O’Neill won in a 10-corner challenge.
O’Neill said 94 candidates are running under his People’s National Congress party in this election.
MP: PNG needs rescuing
May 20, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
THE country is in a bad
socio-economic state and it needs to be rescued, incumbent Ialibu-Pangia MP and
Peoples National Congress (PNC) party leader Peter O’Neill says.
“Health and education systems are amongst other sectors that are collapsing,”
he said.
“Many hospitals nationwide are struggling to have basic medicine and
equipment.”
The former prime minister said giving confidence to the business community was
sorely lacking.
O’Neill, who filed his nomination papers in Pangia station at 11am yesterday to
contest in the general election, said PNC had policies aimed at rescuing the
economy.
“We are putting up 94 candidates to contest in the general election,” he said.
“The leadership in the Government needed to be changed.
“The purchasing power of Kina has weakened.
“All this is happening because of incompetent leaders in the Government.”
At the party’s recent convention in Port Moresby, O’Neill said: “If the PNC
forms the next Government, we will stop overspending on non-priority
expenditures and restore a balanced budget by 2027.
“We will stop uneconomical borrowings and reduce the debt-to-gross domestic
product (ratio) from 60 per cent back to 35 per cent of gross domestic product.
“We will set zero tax income for up to K30,000 per year, reduce corporate tax
from 30 per cent to 25 per cent for non-mining and petroleum companies to boost
investment and jobs.”
O’Neill said People’s National Congress party also aimed to create 500,000 jobs
in the next five years.
OC warns on the use of public funds during
election
Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen and Ombudsman Kevin Kepore made this known in a
statement yesterday following concerns raised through print and social media
concerning the commission’s direction to oversee the release and spending of
public funds for the general election.
They said the commission’s direction was specific to all public funds held in
provinces and districts, including the Coronavirus (Covid-19) funds held in the
provincial and district Covid-19 emergency trust accounts and public funds
stored in respective accounts held and operated by the provinces and districts.
They said the direction included funds withdrawn from any bank in Papua New
Guinea, including the Bank of PNG.
“The direction does not affect the daily operations of the various institutions
in terms of the recurrent budget, however, all relevant authorities should seek
clearance from the Ombudsman Commission before transactions can be effected
through the respective commercial banks and the Banks of PNG,” Pagen said.
He said the Ombudsman Commission had determined that for any claims for funding
for approved projects, the provincial or district administrations had to
furnish to them all relevant documents for verification before the release of
funds.
“The OC will always stand for transparency and promote an equal playing field
for those running for public office without using public funds to lure and
influence voters,” he said.
“To meet such standards, nominations for elections must be fair, however,
concerns have been raised about the sudden increase in projects initiated
months before the election and instances of irregularities and inequalities in
the release, disbursement, transfer and receipt of public money just before the
general election.
“The direction by the commission is to ensure that leaders do not go on a
spending spree months before the general election.”
Sam Basil Jnr to
contest Bulolo
May 20, 2022The NationalMain Stories
THE United Labour
Party (ULP) is fielding Sam Basil Jnr to defend Bulolo for the party in the
general election, ULP deputy leader Koni Iguan says.
“This is to honour and respect the Deputy Prime Minister late Sam Basil,” he
announced at Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae on Wednesday night.
Among a packed crowd at the stadium, where Basil’s casket lay in state, were
Prime Minister James Marape, Lae MP John Rosso, Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu,
Yangoru-Saussia MP Richard Maru.
Iguan said it was the wish of the people of Wau and Bulolo that one of his
(Basil’s) son must contest in honour of him.
“This is not from the selfish heart of ULP but in remembrance of Basil as a
leader (and party founder),” he added.
Iguan said: “Basil’s wish is to have one of his sons captain the plane.
“That was why he sent Basil Jnr to New Zealand to be trained as a pilot.
“He completed his studies, got certified to fly and last month, called his dad
and said he will return home to celebrate his achievement with the family.
“However, he returned home to an untimely death of his father.”
Marape said his late deputy was a leader who excelled in both sides of the Parliament.
He said ULP’s endorsement of Sam Basil Jnr to contest the election was
appreciated.
“My Pangu Pati will not contest Bulolo.
“Pangu will give its full support to Basil Jnr,” he added.
Marape warns of life in jail for illegal possession of guns
Dangerous ride …
People including children overloading a truck of a candidate in Port Moresby
yesterday. National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Gedion Ikumu,
on Tuesday, urged candidates and supporters to be mindful of traffic rules when
going for nominations. He said overloading vehicles could lead to accidents. He
said candidates should manage their supporters and be observant of the laws by
avoiding situations that could lead to trouble during the nomination and poling
period. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI
By REBECCA KUKU in Tari
PRIME Minister James Marape has warned people with guns not to interfere with
the election process.
He said the Government had passed laws to ensure that those caught in illegal
possession of guns would be put away for life in prison. “Police and Defence
teams have already been deployed to provide security and ensure a safe environment
for people to vote in this year’s election,” Marape said.
He made this comments after filing his nomination for the Tari-Pori seat in
Tari yesterday.
Marape also called on the people of Tari-Pori not to attack returning officers
and assistant returning officers in the province.
“They are here only to facilitate the process,” he said.
“Respect the process.”
Hela election manager John Tipa also told the people that returning officers
were only there to facilitate the election process.
Tipa said that election was for the people and said that only the people had
the power to give the mandate to leaders to represent them through ballot
papers.
“You alone will decide through the votes you cast.”
“There will be 81 polling sites throughout the province.
“Cast your votes and let the ballot paper speak,” he said.
Deputy CJ orders Sinai
to publish retraction
May 20, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
By BEVERLY PETER
DEPUTY Chief Justice
Ambeng Kandakasi has warned Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai not to release
information to the media on issues that are pending in court.
“Every election related decision must be carefully made and only facts must be
disseminated through media,” Kandakasi said.
He said this at the National Court in Waigani yesterday when addressing Sinai’s
statement published by Post-Courier on Tuesday titled ‘EC
dismiss second list’.
“Sinai should have come to the court to prove that the fake list was dismissed
instead of going to the media when the proceeding filed by Hagen MP William
Duma in Court regarding this two list still pending,” he said.
Kandakasi further ordered Sinai to write a retraction of his whole statement
and have it published in the same paper.
“The intention of the publication was to clarify the confusion about the
appointments of returning officers (RO) since there were two list of ROs
circulating but one wrong does not correct the other,” he said.
A restraining order Duma obtained on May 12 restraining Sinai and Willie Ropa
(second Western Highlands RO) from stopping Amos Noifa from conducting election
in Hagen open as the RO was extended.
“The nature of this matter is not beyond Sinai’s control because he has the
power to reappoint and replace appointments which should have been done
“He must accept what has been done and start correcting it instead of finding
ways to blame,” Kandakasi said.
Having said this, he ordered Sinai to clarify which of the two National
Gazetted list containing the names of ROs was fake and which was the original.
Kandakasi further added that there were so many confusion this election with
election being deferred, common roll not ready before the closing of parliament
and then to issuing of writs being deferred.
“The Electoral Commission gets to deliver once in five years and should be
prepared in advance and as a result, list of ROs names should have been
released long time and not at the final hours,” he said.
Duma filed the proceeding questioning the appointments of Western Highlands ROs
as his electorate would be affected with having two different ROs on the two
separate lists.
One list having Noifa and the other having Ropa as the ROs.
The matter returns to court today to confirm Sinai’s affidavit declaring which
of those two National Gazettes containing the returning officers name list was
fake and which was original.
Nominations start
May 20, 2022The NationalMain Stories
Madang election manager Sponsa Navi said the total number of nominations
received on the first day of the nominations for the Madang regional seat were
15.
He said the total number of nominees for each district was: Madang open (21),
Bogia open (13), Usino-Bundi open (17), Middle Ramu open (18), Rai Coast open
(13) and Sumkar open (8).
Navi said the nomination closed at 5:30pm yesterday due to the late start.
He said they would be looking forward to an early start today and aimed to
finish on time.
In Wewak, East Sepik, 21 candidates nominated yesterday to contest the Wewak
open seat, according to returning officer Vincent Kavi.
Kavi said nominations opened yesterday and would run through to next Thursday.
Among them was sitting MP Kevin Isifu, former MPs Jim Simatab and Kimson Kare.
Other notable individuals included former National Fisheries Authority managing
director Sylvester Pokajam, Clifford Kasi and lawyer Ralph Saulep.
In Port Moresby, 35 candidates filed their nominations to contest the Moresby
North East seat, nine candidates for the National Capital District regional,
four candidates for Moresby South and 11 nominated for Moresby North West yesterday.
NCD assistant election manager Rosalyne Tabogani said nominations in the city
in the four electorates was quiet except for Moresby North East where a
commotion was ignited by disgruntled candidates who claimed they were treated
unfairly by the NCD electoral commission officers.
Supporters of intending candidate Desmond Yaninen for Moresby North West pushing a bus during the nomination yesterday. – Nationalpic by DALE LUMA
MP ready to defend
seat
May 20, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
MORESBY North West
incumbent MP Lohia Boe Samuel, who is facing a murder charge, was nominated
yesterday to defend his seat in general election 2022.
Samuel’s nomination and papers were accepted by election returning officer
Vincent Manukayasi at 4.27pm in Hohola’s Ipi Oval.
Samuel, who won the seat in a by-election last year, was the ninth hopeful to
file his papers on the first day of nominations,
He said: “I decided to come and file my nomination quietly.
“I am happy to see other challengers.
“It is also good that the nominations are conducted in the open.
“If the counting is done like this, it will be better.”
Samuel is contesting on a Pangu Pati ticket.
The other candidates who filed their nominations were; Desmond Yaninen
(Independent), Isaac Lupari, Joe Tonde (United Labour Party), Dr Thaddeus
Kambanei (People’s Congress Party), Jackson Kiakari (Independent), Anna Bais
(People’s Party), Mefu Kerekere, Memafu Kapera (PNG Party), Allan Nanguromo
(Independent) and Mathew Malingi (Independent).
Manukayasi said the nominations opened at 3pm and six candidates were expected
but 11 turned up and was closed at 4.44pm. He said nominations would resume at
8am and close at 4pm today.
“For Moresby North West, we are expecting at least a 30-corner electoral battle
or even a bigger field.”
One of Samuel’s challenger, Yaninen, said Papua New Guinea had one of the
lowest gross domestic product in the world despite being one of the richest
natural resources country.
“If elected, my focus will therefore be to help grow household income through
the creation of small-medium enterprise (SMEs),” he said.
“That will also have to come with improved access to basic services.”
Yaninen, a Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Business School Master of Business
Administration, said SME activities must be stepped up aggressively to ensure a
minimum of one business per family. Every household here should have a
business, a formal business registered with the Investment Promotion Authority,
pay taxes to the Internal Revenue Commission and contributing to superannuation
funds for retirement benefits,” he said.
“That is what I will strive for the people, if elected.”
Yaninen said every business should employ at least four people.
“So, if we can create 50,000 small businesses here, that should create 200,000
new jobs for the people,” he said. “That is how you create opportunities and
income the people.”
Yaninen lamented that despite Moresby North West being an urban constituency,
“the people suffer from lack of basic services”.
First 4 enter Moresby South race
MORESBY-South
incumbent MP Justin Tkatchenko was one of the four candidates whose nomination
was made at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium yesterday.
According to the National Capital District (NCD) assistant election manager
Roselyn Tabogani, the other three candidates nominated yesterday for Moresby
South were Charles Kassman (People’s Congress Party), Michelle Hau’Ofa
(People’s Party) and Samson Kirilyo.
She said only four candidates were nominated yesterday but nominations would
continue today from 8am and more candidates were expected to show up.
She said the nominations for the Moresby South Electorate closed earlier than
the other nomination centres, with Moresby North-East going into the night.
Female candidate: Women contesting must be
taken seriously
By LULU MARK
WOMEN contesting the four seats in the National Capital District (NCD) are a
force to be reckoned with, Moresby North-West candidate Anna Bais says.
Bais nominated to contest at Ipi Oval in Hohola yesterday.
The former secretary for the Department of Community Development and Religion
is running under the People’s Party along with Michelle Hau’ofa for Moresby
South, Tania Bale for Moresby North-
East and Sylvia Pascoe for NCD regional.
Bais after serving the department for 27 years, resigned last year to contest
the by-election where she was the only female candidate among 41 contestants.
She said the other three female candidates were all first-timers so she had
been sharing her experience with them and they were talking and working
together.
“I’ve learned many things and in the by-election,” she said.
“I am looking forward to the election after gaining experience in the
by-election.
“I am wiser, smarter, I’ve re-strategised and I have a great strategy to ensure
that I win this election.”
Bais said she had told her constituents that the way things were today was the
result of how they had voted.
“You want to change tomorrow, you change the way you vote today,” she said.
Bais said the trend where people went to intending candidates with their
problems for help and then classifying them as leader depending on their
response and help had to stop.
“That kind of voting has really spoilt this country so I am trying to break the
culture of the way we have voted.
“I think I can do it,” Bais said.
According to the NCD assistant election manager Roselyn Tabogani, Bais could be
the only woman contesting the Moresby North-West seat.
Tobogani said the number of women contesting in this election had increased
from the 2017 election.
Candidates claim ill treatment
May 20, 2022The NationalMain Stories
AN argument broke out among candidates of Moresby North East as they stood on the queue to file their nominations to contest the general election.
The commotion was ignited by disgruntled candidates who claimed they were treated unfairly by the NCD Electoral Commission officers. NCD assistant election manager Rosalyne Tabogani said that the nomination in the city in the four electorates was quiet except for Moresby North East.
“We anticipated a quiet nomination period except for Moresby North East and North West electorates.
“Because of the misunderstanding by candidates in the process of calling names to nominate, this had caused the commotion,” Tabogani said.
She said the electoral officers were called in to quickly help the candidates and got the job moving.
The heated argument erupted between the candidates when businessman Sergey Mosin was called to file his nomination.
The other waiting candidates alleged that the Electoral Commission officers had accepted his nomination ahead of others.
Moresby North East returning officer Billy George explained that they were following the list that the candidates had filled.
George said no one was given preference ahead of others.
“We were only following the list that the candidates themselves filled and no one was above the others,” he said.
The nomination process was halfway through when the argument erupted.
George assured candidates that everyone would be registered.
The nomination process continues today and will end on Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Smooth nominations for NCD
Pati candidate for National Capital District regional Lucille Paru (right) with her witness ready to sign forms and receiving instructions from the election manager at Sir John Guise stadium in Port Moresby yesterday – Nationalpic By NICKY BERNARD
By LULU MAGINDE
FORMER NCD Governor Wari Vele was among nine other candidates who nominated for the National Capital District (NCD) regional seat yesterday.
Some of the other candidates were Steven Kilage, Sylvia Pascoe, retired pilot and independent candidate Paun Nonggorr, Lucille Paru and Ben Dangima.
By 4.50pm, the NCD provincial returning officer Kila Ralai announced to candidates still waiting in line that they were going to close nominations by 5pm, at which time the majority of candidates had already been waiting for some time.
There was confusion among supporters whether returning officers should be accepting nominations at 4pm or before that as Ralai had started to accept nominations by 3pm after Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai had issued notice to all returning officers to start accepting nominations by 8am.
While candidates were nominating inside the indoor complex, supporters of Kilage, Dangima and Paru were rallying support from all four corners of the field surrounding the complex.
Pangu Pati candidate Paru entered with her entourage and waited patiently for nominees before her to finish until she was finally allowed to place her nomination.
She shared some jokes while seated next to Kilage and was in good spirits as one of the four female candidates endorsed by Pangu Pati to contest this election.
Nomination drama for Moresby North East
THE majority of candidates from the Moresby North East electorate who filed their nominations to contest the 2022 general election yesterday either had their names misspelt or missing from the common roll.
Among those whose name was on the common roll was current MP John Kaupa.
NCD assistant election manager Rosalyne Tabogani confirmed that there were candidates without names on the common roll.
She told The National that her team was given copies of form 11 to assist candidates register their names on the common roll while filing their nominations.
“Our teams are given the form 11 to ensure that candidates without names on the common roll are registered right away,” Tabogani said.
A total of 35 candidates filed their nominations yesterday including former North East member Andrew Mald and three women.
Electoral Commission officers took time to ensure the candidates were registered on the common roll.
This led to a long queue of candidates and their supporters waiting anxiously.
Tabogani realised the tension building up among the candidates and called for more manpower to speed up the process.
The nominations opened at 4pm at the Unagi Oval which was already alive and active with candidates and their supporters as early at 10am.
Tabogani and her team after a briefing with the intending candidates opened the nominations at 3.30pm.
The first to file his nomination was Thomas Gamu.
All nominations were accepted and the process will continue today and for the next five days.
Three women contest city seat
Three women are among the 35 candidates that filed their nominations to contest the Moresby North-East seat in this year’s general election.
The women included Tania Bale, who is contesting under the People’s Party, Diane Unagi (United Labour Party) and Quina Ongugo an independent candidate.
Bale told The National that she decided to contest to help fight corruption and law and order in the electorate.
“Moresby North East is made up of settlements and I’ve seen how people struggle for basic services like water and electricity,” she said. “Coming from a place where these services are accessible I feel for these people and want to assist them which is why I have put my hand up to contest.
“I want to help these people and if I don’t help now then when will they get help and if not now when?”
Ongugo said she came from a background of having worked with Hope World PNG and had seen the challenges that affected women.
Unagi turned up in black to show her respect to the late Deputy Prime Minister Sam Basil as she filed her nomination.
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