Two shot dead in Papua New Guinea’s first General Election 2022 violence, deaths
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Two shot dead in Papua
New Guinea’s first General Election 2022 violence, deaths
PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s General Election
2022 (GE22) is proving to be no different from previous general election since Independence
1975, as far as violence and fatalities are concerned.
Police have confirmed
that two men were shot dead last Thursday (May May 26, 2022) in a clash between
supporters of two political parties in Morobe’s Huon Gulf. Morobe commander
Superintendent Jocob Singura confirmed that the incident in Manum village
outside Lae was election-related.
And the Supreme Court
has ruled that anyone convicted of a crime after June 25, 2022, is not eligible
to contest in General Election 2022 (GE22) or remain as an MP.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few news updates on GE22 as published by The National:
Shooting, 2 dead
June 1, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
PAPUA New Guinea
(PNG)’s General Election 2022 (GE22) is proving to be no different from
previous elections since Independence 1975, as far as violence and fatalilties
are concerned.
Police have confirmed that two men were shot dead last Thursday in a clash
between supporters of two political parties in Morobe’s Huon Gulf.
Morobe commander Superintendent Jacob Singura confirmed that the incident in
Munum Village outside Lae was election-related.
“The allegations and cause of deaths will be determined after autopsy reports.
“The post-mortems will be conducted on Tuesday,” he added.
Singura said police had yet to make an arrest but would proceed with arrests
after the post mortems.
“The Crime Investigations Division investigators with the provincial police
command will also be investigating the burning of a vehicle, market houses and
other properties that were destroyed.
“In the confrontation of political supporters, several people were also
injured.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Lae MP John Rosso, Northern Assistant Commissioner
Peter Guinness and Singura intervened the following day to address the issues.
The locals then agreed to clear the main highway after police assured them that
it was a police matter and investigations would be thorough.
Singura appealed to both sides of the political divide to stop creating other
related problems and work closely with the police to have those responsible for
the killings identified and arrested.
“At this stage, we are still trying to identify the shooter or shooters,” he
said.
Meanwhile, Morobe Rural Patrol Unit commander John Davianga, district
administrator Moses Wanga and Huon Gulf MP Ross Seymour met with Zifasing
locals on Friday and told them to refrain from retaliation.
Seymour said the violence was pre-planned claiming it was an act of jealousy
against National Alliance Party.
“We were on our way in a convoy of 139 vehicles from Morobe, Salamaua and
Wampar to Lae to receive my nomination registration number.
“Two men then exposed their genitals as we passed by to incite hatred and
anger.
“Youths also pelted objects at us, injuring a woman from Gabansis who was then
sent to Angau Hospital.
“On our way out of Lae, surprisingly, groups of people attacked our convoy at
Ngarogoam, Aumanpo Creek and Munum Maus Rot,”he said.
“The convoy passengers then got out of their vehicles to defend themselves.
“Instead, the locals mobilised and attacked with sharp objects from all
directions.
“When I arrived at the scene from Nadzab Airport, police soon opened fire,
dispersing crowds along the highway.
“As I passed through, the situation worsened.”
Seymour said the relatives of the dead had claimed for K200,000 compensation
but police investigation would determine the cause of the violence and the
process to settle the matter.
Wanga said responsible leaders needed to get their facts right to help police
in their investigations.
Supreme Court rules on eligibility
June 1, 2022The NationalMain Stories
THE Supreme Court has
ruled that anyone convicted of a crime after June 25, 2002, is not eligible to
stand for the general election or remain as an MP.
A Supreme Court bench, comprising acting Chief Justice Les Gavara-Nanu, Justice
David Cannings, Justice Elenas Batari, Justice George Manuhu and Justice Allen
Kingsley David, made the ruling in Waigani yesterday.
The special reference was re-filed by Attorney-General Pila Niningi on May 5
following the dismissal of the earlier special reference which was dismissed
based on competency grounds.
Niningi had asked the Supreme Court to clarify whether convicted criminals
could run for public office.
The 13 constitutional questions centred on 103 (3) (e) of the Constitution
which states that a person is not qualified to be or to remain an MP if they
are under sentence of death or imprisonment for a period of more than nine
months.
The main issue that Niningi raised was that if an offence was committed on a
date after the date of the commencement of section 103 (3) (e) of the
Constitution, was such a person disqualified from being an MP.
The five-man bench held that section 103 (3) (e) of the Constitution operated
to permanently disqualify from membership of the parliament, irrespective of
their length of their sentence and whether they have completed their sentence.
However, the court found that this section 103 (3) (e) of the Constitution was
subject to some exceptions such as if the person was granted a free pardon or
their conviction was quashed.
The court noted that amendment to section 103 (3) (e) of the Constitution came
into operation on June 25, 2002.
“A person convicted of an indictable offence that was committed after that date
is caught by section 103 (3) (e) of the Constitution and is not qualified to be
or remain a member of the parliament and is not an eligible candidate,” the
judges said.
“A nomination by such a person must be rejected by the electoral commission. If
their nomination is accepted, it is open to be set aside by the National Court
or the Supreme Court as being unlawful.
“If their nomination is not set aside and such a person is a candidate in the
election and they are elected, their election is open to be declared null and
void via an election petition challenging their election under the Organic Law
on National and Local Level Government election.”
Earlier this month, the court allowed Public Solicitor Leslie Mamu, Speaker Job
Pomat, Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai and Public Prosecutor Pondros Kaluwin
to be a part of this proceeding.
Parliament passed Constitutional amendment No.24 on electoral reforms in 2002,
by introducing section 103(3)(e) of the Constitution which provides for
disqualification from membership to the Parliament.
All the parties have submitted that amendment No.24 came into operation through
certification by the speaker on June 25, 2002.
Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa representing Niningi submitted that as long
as a person had a conviction of a crime committed after June 25, 2002, he was
disqualified from being or remaining an MP regardless of any other circumstance
unless the conviction was quashed or overturned.
RO appointment
challenged
June 1, 2022The NationalMain Stories
THE National Court has
granted permission to former acting Hagen Open returning officer (RO) Amos
Noifa to challenge Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai’s decision to reappoint
Willie Ropa.
Noifa, through his lawyer Emmanuel Isaac, filed the application before Justice
Joseph Yagi in the National Court in Waigani yesterday to review Ropa’s
appointment because he was not short-listed for the position, was from the
electorate and had a bad reputation.
Noifa sought the court’s permission because he also claimed that he was the
duly appointed RO for Hagen Open.
Isaac, in the application, stated that Noifa’s appointment was lawfully made
because he had applied for the position and was short-listed.
“Noifa was shortlisted with Jameson Nukundi and Jeffry Puri and later appointed
through an instrument of appointment and duly signed by Sinai,” Isaac said
He said the National Gazettal Notice No.G347 containing Noifa’s name as Hagen
Open RO was published on May 6.
Isaac added that Noifa had written a letter to Sinai accepting the position and
proceeded to start his responsibilities as RO.
Because there was another gazettal containing Ropa’s name was released, people
were confused which lead to incumbent Hagen MP William Duma’s proceeding
against Sinai.
He said: “Sinai revoked Noifa and appointed Ropa following the Supreme Court’s
decision on May 27.”
Attorney-General Pila Niningi, through Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa for
the State, did not oppose the application.
Tanuvasa said they would not object to the application because it was up to
Sinai to decide who was capable to be the returning officer.
“The Supreme Court order was for the duly appointed to act in the position,”
Tanuvasa said.
Justice Yagi asked Isaac to withdraw his notice of motion, saying it was an
abuse of court process to file notice of motion before a leave was granted.
“Notice of motion must be filed after leave is granted.
Justice Yagi further ordered Isaac to serve Sinai the necessary documents for
the matter before 4pm yesterday as Sinai was not in court and Tanuvasa to
obtain further instruction from Niningi.
The matter returns tomorrow for hearing.
Police appeal for combined peace efforts
Members of the New
Ireland police and mobile squad ready to disembark and carry out patrol on
foot. – Picture supplied
NEW Ireland police
commander Chief Inspector Felix Nebanat wants to see a combined effort to work
with the police to restore normalcy to the province’s islands.
During the issue of writs and nominations, criminals destroyed more than
K20,000 worth of donated goods and materials.
A candidate reported the matter to the police.
The same criminals were reportedly involved in a string of murders on Nonovaul
Island, Nebanat said.
Police were unable to attend to the matter because there was not enough
manpower until after the close of nominations.
Since Friday, nine arrests were made and more were expected.
“I appeal to community leaders, churches and other stakeholders to continue to
pray for spiritual guidance in dealing with this deeply-rooted issue we are
dealing with,” Nebanat said.
“It is important that such incidents are dealt with aggressively to prevent it
from spiking other election-related offences,” he said.
He called on the provincial government and administration and Kavieng
Development Authority to support the restoring of peace.
“This has been an escalation from the ongoing New Hanover issue, including
gruesome mass killings, wounding, public nuisances and a seemingly
uncontrollable disorder that has stretched as far as Kavieng Urban mainland,
Tigak Kara, Nalik and even Sentral Niu Ailan.”
Upon attending to that incident, officers were attacked with cross bows,
catapults and bows and arrows, resulting in Nebanat calling in reinforcements
of mobile squad personnel from Tomaringa to boost manpower and mitigate the
situation.
O’Neill questions use of loans
FORMER prime minister and Ialibu-Pangia MP
Peter O’Neill says from 1975 to 2019, the country had K27.6 billion loan but
this has skyrocketed to K60 billion in just three years.
He said Prime Minister James Marape and his Government borrowed K33 billion in the
last three years; K11 billion each year, a world record of huge money
borrowing.
“I asked Marape and Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey why the Government borrowed so
much and what has been done with the money?
“No country that has similar economy like ours, borrows such amounts of money
in a short period of time,” he said.
He said they gave excuses and one of it was the Coronavirus (Covid-19)
pandemic; they said people were dying from it.
“When I was the PM, I borrowed money and that money was used to improve health,
roads, education and other infrastructures.
“Our country will suffer if people do not vote wisely to elect good leaders
this election,” O’Neill said.
He said one of his priorities was to create employment, thousands of students
that graduate each year at tertiary institutions had no jobs.
Maru receives K130,000 in cash and fuel from villagers
People from Hambuke
village in the Numbo local level government travelled to Pachen in East Yangoru
LLG to donate cash and other items. Spokesman Jethro Hombominga (speaking with
a microphone) providing details on the development at Hambuke under Maru’s
leadership. – Picture supplied
VILLAGERS from East Sepik’s Yangoru-Saussia
have contributed nearly K130,000 in cash and fuel to support MP Richard Maru.
The People’s First Party (PFP) leader was at his Pachen village on Monday to
launch his campaign when people from the four local level Governments – Numbo,
Sausso, East and West Yangoru – turned up in numbers with their support.
Maru was overwhelmed with the support from the local villagers, saying it was
the first time he had experienced it in his political career.
He told The National yesterday that people from the electorate were keen on
investing in their future. They told Maru that they were investing in his
leadership. Maru said more pledges were coming in and it might reach K200,000
by end of the week.
He said he was humbled to see relatives of candidates contesting against him
for the seat coming forward to help him with cash or kind.
“Given the amount of support, I am confident of retaining my seat,” he added.
Maru was first elected to the ninth Parliament as Yangoru-Saussia MP in 2012 as
an independent candidate.
He held several portfolios under the People’s National Congress party until
last April, he moved to join People’s First Party.
Choose good leaders:
OC
June 1, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Chief Ombudsman Richard Pagen and Ombudsman Kevin Kepore said this in a
statement on Monday and urged people to vote wisely.
“We read about a mother giving birth by the road side on her way to the nearest
hospital which is miles away; an asthmatic patient dying outside a hospital and
children not going to school because it had closed down due to lack of
government funding,” Pagen said.
He said the country needed more leaders with good morals and ethics.
“The Ombudsman Commission statistics show more than 100 leaders from different
sectors of the government have been investigated and referred to the public
prosecutor for prosecution since independence,” he said.
“There is a need to elect good leaders during the upcoming national election.”
Pagen and Kepore urged the people to consider certain qualities and characters
a candidate would need to make a good leader:
- FULFILLING his/her
constitutional obligation without fear or favour;
- PUTTING the interest of others
before his or hers; and,
- PROVIDING goods and services to
the people they are mandated to serve.
Pagen and Kepore urged
people to vote for candidates who had values such as, integrity, honesty,
fairness, accountability, transparency, servitude, humility and ethics.
Smooth polling expected
POLLING in Central
will begin on July 2 and ends on July 8 to allow ample time for polling
officials to prepare for counting, Central election manager and provincial
returning officer Peter Malaifeope says.
Malaifeope said the Electoral Commission’s announced date for counting was only
a week and the remaining days of polling would be used for counting.
He said planning for polling were going smoothly but it needed an increase in
the total number of polling teams to 200.
“The province has some big villages like Tubuseria, Porebada and Wanigela that
would expect an increase in polling teams,” he said.
He said the polling and counting dates were short, therefore there was a need
for a much bigger team to fast-track work.
Malaifeope, however, said polling and counting plans had been set.
“There will be two separate counting done at the five electorates, one for the
regional seat and the other for open electorates,” he said.
He said counting areas were Kupiano for the Abau seat, Kwikila for the Rigo and
for Hiri-Koiari, Goilala and Kairuku seats would be at Murray Barracks in Port
Moresby.
He added that funding for polling was yet to be released by the Electoral
Commission.
“We intend for the funding to be sent this month which would allow us to
dispatch the teams to their locations as soon as possible,” he said.
Meanwhile, Central had recorded a total of 204 candidates as of the close of
nominations last week.
Security forces ready for polling: PM
PRIME Minister James
Marape says the Government has so far allocated K274.4 million for security
operations for the 2022 general election to ensure it is “fair and safe” for
all citizens.
Marape made this known yesterday after a meeting with Police Commissioner David
Manning, PNG Defence Force Commander Major-General Mark Goina and Correctional
Service Commissioner Stephen Pokanis.
Also present at the meeting was inter-departmental election committee chairman
and secretary for Prime Minister and National Executive Council Ivan Pomaleu.
“We have given more support to our disciplinary forces in 2022, unlike previous
elections, such as in 2012 and 2017 elections,” he said.
“The Government, under Pangu Pati, delivered to this country its sovereignty
and democracy in 1975 and continues to do so today.
“As the party that is now in charge of the executive government, supervising
and resourcing the electoral process, we will be fully supporting Police, PNGDF
and Correctional Services, as well as the Electoral Commission, to give our
people the opportunity to cast their votes for the leaders of their choice.”
Marape said police had so far received K190 million, PNGDF K72.8 million and
Correctional Services K11.6 million – total K274.4 million.
He said the heads of the three forces had advised him that they were ready for
election operations.
Marape said the heads would meet Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai today to
discuss security during polling, which was scheduled to start on July 4.
“As prime minister, I am satisfied that the security forces have been given
good support by our Government,” he said.
“Likewise, we’ve given adequate support to the Electoral Commission, to ensure
that they are ready for polling, counting, declarations and the return of
writs.”
Marape commended the people for a peaceful nomination process and encouraged
all Papua New Guineans to ensure the election was safe and to allow
campaigning, voting, counting and declarations to be done freely, fairly and
safely.
Hela dancers …
Traditional dancers from Hela during an election rally in Tari, Hela on May 19.
The Ombudsman Commission has urged people to vote for candidates who have
values such as integrity, honesty, fairness, accountability, transparency,
servitude, humility and ethics. – Picture supplied
LPV less effective:
Study
June 1, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
WHEN Papua New Guinea
first switched to the Limited Preferential Voting (LPV) system in 2007, the
hope was that it would bring better political governance, according to
academics in a discussion paper.
A discussion paper entitled, “What has limited preferential voting changed in Papua
New Guinea?”, from the Development policy centre at the Australian National
University (ANU), claims that LPV has neither improved the electoral process
nor worsened the quality of it, rating it as mediocre.
Written by ANU research fellow Dr Terrence Wood, economics lecturer at the
University of Papua New Guinea, Maholopa Laveil and PhD candidate at ANU
Michael Kabuni, the authors presented a cost benefit analysis of LPV.
Twenty years on and three LPV general elections later, Wood, Laveil and Kabuni
found that there had been no large impact with the change, as the system had
failed to bring about the much hoped for results with positive change minimal.
Responding to a question from The National, Wood said the
correlation between LPV and governance quality was that for the case of PNG,
the electoral process and thus quality of governance was determined more by
local cultural factors than anything else.
In other words, LPV has in a sense, heightened people’s need to nominate or
vote for their own clansmen; people from a similar social and cultural
background or in the rare case, led to an increase in vote buying.
The authors showed however that in regards to the last factor, there was no
substantial data to back this up and so could not say for certain that LPV had
worsened vote buying. “There is no data available to research or assess vote
buying, so although vote buying is and has become more prevalent in PNG, there
is no way to prove that this is because of the change to a LPV system.
“It is a major issue, but not likely caused by LPV,” Wood said.
Before 2007, there were fears that LPV could impose costs on the people and
government meaning more expenses spent on general election, due to a more complex
vote counting system.
Wood however showed that this was hard to prove because it was hard to get good
data on the accurate costs of elections in PNG.
Ikumu urges candidates to set example for a
peaceful general election
NATIONAL Capital
District (NCD) Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu has urged candidates to
set the example of a peaceful general election that city residents deserve.
“I appeal to you candidates; it must start with you, for it is your leadership
in the city that determines how people look at us in the country and Port
Moresby should be leading by example,” he said.
“How you have influenced your people and supporters, should already reflect the
kind of leader you are so thank you for a peaceful period of nominations.”
Ikumu said that the police were not there to fight with candidates or their
supporters but to make sure the electoral process ran properly.
He said police would take necessary measures to ensure a safe, free and fair
environment was created for people to vote.
“The boldness of those who chose to lead our people, that act in of itself is a
noble thing.
“As I always say, leadership is something you take on every day and not just
when you are voted into parliament,” he said.
“It is how you stand in the community, how you have the kind of influence over
your supporters and I want to congratulate each and every one of you for
demonstrating this over the quiet and peaceful nomination period.”
Ikumu said while the majority of the city were law abiding there was always a
minority of people who were likely to cause trouble.
“We are not out there to fight with you but to make sure the environment is
peaceful and calm, so that the voters will exercise their rights and chose a
leader who comes in cleanly so everyone knows that is a leader chosen by the
people.”
Peaceful nominations in province
KOROWA Pokeya was the
first of Southern Highlands’ 18 regional candidates to be picked by Southern
Highlands provincial police commander chief supt Daniel Yangen in the order of
draw at the Mendi police station on Friday.
Sixteen men and two women, Ruth Undi and Wendy Imagu, are vying for the seat
currently held by Governor William Powi.
Powi drew box number 25.
Candidates Alex Awesa, Steven Evekone and Alfred Walne were present to witness
the draw while others sent representatives.
Regional candidate Awesa called on electoral officers and police officers to
carry out their duties effectively.
Awesa, a businessman from Kiburu village in Lower Mendi, Imbonggu, said the
province lacked many services due to lack of good leadership and people needed
to vote good leaders this time and not accept bribes.
He was referring to Powi’s declaration as winner of the regional seat in
September 2017 under Section 175 of the Organic Law on national and local level
government elections allegedly without the completion of the elimination
process.
Evekone said for a violence-free election, all candidates needed to cooperate
and educate their supporters not to be violent during the campaign, counting
and declaration periods.
“People from this province are seen as violent, but we are good people and this
time we must show it.”
Meanwhile, the five returning officers of the districts said the nomination was
done peacefully without any disturbance.
Lack of services prompts Liria to run for
office
By PARKER TAMBUA
LAWYER and businessman
Stanley Liria nominated on Thursday to contest the Ialibu-Pangia open and
challenge former prime minister and incumbent MP Peter O’Neill.
Liria, who hails from Tunda village in Wiru local level government (LLG), is
running as a Pangu Pati candidate.
This will be his second time to run for office after first attempting to unseat
O’Neill in 2017 were he finished as runner-up.
Liria told his supporters during his nomination at Pangia station that the
electorate was still in need of basic services.
“Despite our current MP (O’Neill) occupying the seat for 20 years and being
prime minister for eight years, our people are still missing out,” Liria said.
“Villages like Wembu, Kundu and Lawe in the far end of Last Wiru are still
neglected and road services are yet to reach them.
“I stand to represent those people. These are our people. Whoever wins this
seat must have a good development plan.”
Gender balance in
roles
June 1, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Morobe election manager Simon Soheke said they were still looking for suitable
applicants to fill in those positions.
“This is to ensure that there is gender balance in the work that the provincial
election office is looking at,” Soheke said.
He also mentioned that during polling the election steering committee approved
that there would be 421 polling teams throughout the province.
“From that 421 teams, if a man is the presiding officer, then a woman has to be
his assistant presiding officer,” he said.
He gave an example that if a team consisted of seven members, then there has to
be 4 men and 3 women or vice-versa.
Soheke said gender equality in election work in Morobe was priority to ensure
women were involved meaningfully in election work throughout the province.
Meanwhile, he also gave details that the provincial election officer was
confident of conducting election for the newly-established Wau Waria
electorate.
“The roll that we will use during the polling there will be the same roll as
was used previously with the Bulolo electorate but it will come with a new name
which is Wau Waria”
He said the assistant returning officers had been appointed and was waiting for
them to be gazetted so they could start performing their duties.
LPV less effective:
Study
June 1, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
WHEN Papua New Guinea
first switched to the Limited Preferential Voting (LPV) system in 2007, the
hope was that it would bring better political governance, according to
academics in a discussion paper.
A discussion paper entitled, “What has limited preferential voting changed in Papua
New Guinea?”, from the Development policy centre at the Australian National
University (ANU), claims that LPV has neither improved the electoral process
nor worsened the quality of it, rating it as mediocre.
Written by ANU research fellow Dr Terrence Wood, economics lecturer at the
University of Papua New Guinea, Maholopa Laveil and PhD candidate at ANU
Michael Kabuni, the authors presented a cost benefit analysis of LPV.
Twenty years on and three LPV general elections later, Wood, Laveil and Kabuni
found that there had been no large impact with the change, as the system had
failed to bring about the much hoped for results with positive change minimal.
Responding to a question from The National, Wood said the
correlation between LPV and governance quality was that for the case of PNG,
the electoral process and thus quality of governance was determined more by
local cultural factors than anything else.
In other words, LPV has in a sense, heightened people’s need to nominate or
vote for their own clansmen; people from a similar social and cultural
background or in the rare case, led to an increase in vote buying.
The authors showed however that in regards to the last factor, there was no
substantial data to back this up and so could not say for certain that LPV had
worsened vote buying. “There is no data available to research or assess vote
buying, so although vote buying is and has become more prevalent in PNG, there
is no way to prove that this is because of the change to a LPV system.
“It is a major issue, but not likely caused by LPV,” Wood said.
Before 2007, there were fears that LPV could impose costs on the people and
government meaning more expenses spent on general election, due to a more complex
vote counting system.
Wood however showed that this was hard to prove because it was hard to get good
data on the accurate costs of elections in PNG.
Ikumu urges candidates to set example for a
peaceful general election
NATIONAL Capital
District (NCD) Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu has urged candidates to
set the example of a peaceful general election that city residents deserve.
“I appeal to you candidates; it must start with you, for it is your leadership
in the city that determines how people look at us in the country and Port
Moresby should be leading by example,” he said.
“How you have influenced your people and supporters, should already reflect the
kind of leader you are so thank you for a peaceful period of nominations.”
Ikumu said that the police were not there to fight with candidates or their
supporters but to make sure the electoral process ran properly.
He said police would take necessary measures to ensure a safe, free and fair
environment was created for people to vote.
“The boldness of those who chose to lead our people, that act in of itself is a
noble thing.
“As I always say, leadership is something you take on every day and not just
when you are voted into parliament,” he said.
“It is how you stand in the community, how you have the kind of influence over
your supporters and I want to congratulate each and every one of you for
demonstrating this over the quiet and peaceful nomination period.”
Ikumu said while the majority of the city were law abiding there was always a
minority of people who were likely to cause trouble.
“We are not out there to fight with you but to make sure the environment is
peaceful and calm, so that the voters will exercise their rights and chose a
leader who comes in cleanly so everyone knows that is a leader chosen by the
people.”
Peaceful nominations in province
KOROWA Pokeya was the
first of Southern Highlands’ 18 regional candidates to be picked by Southern
Highlands provincial police commander chief supt Daniel Yangen in the order of
draw at the Mendi police station on Friday.
Sixteen men and two women, Ruth Undi and Wendy Imagu, are vying for the seat
currently held by Governor William Powi.
Powi drew box number 25.
Candidates Alex Awesa, Steven Evekone and Alfred Walne were present to witness
the draw while others sent representatives.
Regional candidate Awesa called on electoral officers and police officers to
carry out their duties effectively.
Awesa, a businessman from Kiburu village in Lower Mendi, Imbonggu, said the
province lacked many services due to lack of good leadership and people needed
to vote good leaders this time and not accept bribes.
He was referring to Powi’s declaration as winner of the regional seat in
September 2017 under Section 175 of the Organic Law on national and local level
government elections allegedly without the completion of the elimination
process.
Evekone said for a violence-free election, all candidates needed to cooperate
and educate their supporters not to be violent during the campaign, counting
and declaration periods.
“People from this province are seen as violent, but we are good people and this
time we must show it.”
Meanwhile, the five returning officers of the districts said the nomination was
done peacefully without any disturbance.
Lack of services prompts Liria to run for
office
By PARKER TAMBUA
LAWYER and businessman
Stanley Liria nominated on Thursday to contest the Ialibu-Pangia open and
challenge former prime minister and incumbent MP Peter O’Neill.
Liria, who hails from Tunda village in Wiru local level government (LLG), is
running as a Pangu Pati candidate.
This will be his second time to run for office after first attempting to unseat
O’Neill in 2017 were he finished as runner-up.
Liria told his supporters during his nomination at Pangia station that the
electorate was still in need of basic services.
“Despite our current MP (O’Neill) occupying the seat for 20 years and being
prime minister for eight years, our people are still missing out,” Liria said.
“Villages like Wembu, Kundu and Lawe in the far end of Last Wiru are still
neglected and road services are yet to reach them.
“I stand to represent those people. These are our people. Whoever wins this
seat must have a good development plan.”
Gender balance in
roles
June 1, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Morobe election manager Simon Soheke said they were still looking for suitable
applicants to fill in those positions.
“This is to ensure that there is gender balance in the work that the provincial
election office is looking at,” Soheke said.
He also mentioned that during polling the election steering committee approved
that there would be 421 polling teams throughout the province.
“From that 421 teams, if a man is the presiding officer, then a woman has to be
his assistant presiding officer,” he said.
He gave an example that if a team consisted of seven members, then there has to
be 4 men and 3 women or vice-versa.
Soheke said gender equality in election work in Morobe was priority to ensure
women were involved meaningfully in election work throughout the province.
Meanwhile, he also gave details that the provincial election officer was
confident of conducting election for the newly-established Wau Waria
electorate.
“The roll that we will use during the polling there will be the same roll as
was used previously with the Bulolo electorate but it will come with a new name
which is Wau Waria”
He said the assistant returning officers had been appointed and was waiting for
them to be gazetted so they could start performing their duties.
22 women candidates contesting Morobe seats
Twenty-two of the 354
candidates contesting Morobe’s 11 seats at this year’s general election are
women.
The Nawaeb open has the most number of female candidates contesting with six,
Morobe regional 4, Markham 3, Bulolo 2, Huon Gulf 2 and Tewai-Siassi 2,
Finschhafen 1, Menyamya 1 and Wau-Waria 1.
Lae and Kabwum did not register any female candidates for their seats.
Fewer women nominated to contest seats at the 2017 general election in Morobe
and none were able to win.
Morobe’s total nominations across its 11 seats are: Morobe regional 37, Bulolo
30, Finschhafen 27, Huon Gulf 30, Kabwum 14, Lae 22, Markham 35, Menyamya 30,
Nawaeb 55, Tewai-Siassi 41 and Wau-Waria 33.
Meanwhile, woman candidate for the Nawaeb seat, Edna Yalu Gebob, 32, and from
Widuru village, ward 5, Nawaeb, said she had decided to run for office to
ensure the people received services.
“While being a woman trying to stand for my people, I have gone through
criticism from my own people but these are some things that will make me strong
in my aspirations for the district,” she said.
Gebob, who is contesting as an independent, said her priorities were education,
health, law and order and church development activities.
The small business owner and accountant challenged all candidates in Morobe to
work together and help one another during campaigning and polling periods.
“To the other women who are contesting seats in Morobe, let us make it happen
and let our voices be heard,” she said.
Baing focuses on ward level developments
Morobe regional women
candidate Jennifer Baing (middle) says she wants to create change by attending
to the needs of the people at the ward level.
MOROBE regional seat women candidate Jennifer
Baing says she wants to create change by attending to the needs of the people
at the ward level.
Baing, who had spent the past three years preparing to contest the regional
seat on a People’s Movement for Change (PMFC) party ticket, said: “My aim is to
work with the people as business partners and build them up to become
self-reliant, earning a good living from the resources available to them on
land and sea,” she said.
“I haven’t seen any tangible developments at the ward level. I’ve been living
in the province for the last 15 years so I know the hardships that mothers in
Markham valley face having to live off the land,” she said.
“In terms of implementing the service improvement programme funds (SIPs),
there’s nobody going down to the wards and asking the people what their
development needs are.
“Running health awareness in different villages through my Non-Governmental
Organisation, Save PNG, I have walked and shared stories with the people and I
have seen that so many villages are without running water.”
Baing said it was important to know the needs of the constituents at the ward
level through participatory and inclusive development planning, done through
ward development committees that would create a budget for each of the wards.
“Working through an NGO, there’s only so much you can do and I think the same
goes for education so I’m standing because I’m Papua New Guinean and Morobean,
and I want the best for our future and our children,” she said.
She said there was a need to invest in ward development planning and budgeting
so that projects introduced can be implemented cost effectively.
In preparing for election, Baing began her awareness early, educating people
about ward development planning, for instance how cocoa and coffee farmers
could increase the income they could make off their land.
“I’ve been actively moving around for the last three years; Morobe’s the
largest province so you can’t cover that kind of area in just four weeks. I’ve
been telling them how much money comes in DSIP so that there can be
accountability held with the people,” she said.
Sir Charles aims to
lead Milne Bay
June 1, 2022The NationalMain Stories
Retired diplomat Sir
Charles Lepani is contesting the Milne Bay regional seat under the PNG Party
banner.
Sir Charles said he joined the PNG Party which was started by his good friend
late Sir Mekere Morauta and was now led by a dynamic young leader, Belden
Namah.
“I was enjoying my retirement in Alotau since early last year but increasingly
it became very obvious that a sense of malaise had enveloped Milne Bay and
there was lack of leadership,” he said.
“The people of Trobriand urged me to stand for the regional seat.”
Sir Charles had previously contested the Kiriwina-Goodenough seat in the 1982
general election well before his diplomatic career.
“I am concerned and want to provide experienced leadership for the province and
my focus is to bring about a renewed sense of purpose for the people to work
hard in reforming district administration to better deliver health and
education services,” he said.
“Other major priority is to put in place policies to create income earning
opportunities for the youth.”
Sir Charles said the regional seat covered a large maritime area as well as
mountainous hinterland of mainland Milne Bay.
“It is difficult when campaigning but I intend to cover as much of the province
as I can so the people of Milne Bay will be given the opportunity to assess my
candidacy,” he said.
“I’m up against 18 others and it’s great to see two women candidates.
“Milne Bay has a history of electing women in PNG politics.”
Mobile squad units deployed to Milne Bay
Abel nominates …
Alotau MP Charles Abel with his supporters after his nomination for the Milne
Bay provincial seat. – Picture supplied
By REBECCA KUKU
Three mobile squad
units and a quick response force have been deployed to Alotau to ‘beef up’
security for the general election.
Provincial police commander Peter Barkie said the three mobile squad units
arrived in Alotau last week and they would work with the quick response force
and the local police during the campaigning, counting and polling period.
“Currently, they are in Alotau but we will deploy them to the islands and the
mountains this week to ensure that there is a safe, free and fair election in
the province,” he said.
Barkie said that nomination was carried out peacefully and he was optimistic
that campaigning, polling and counting would also be carried out without any
major security issues.
“I believe in Milne Bay people, despite the security issues we have faced in
the last couple of years, we are resilient and we will stand back up,” he said.
“I call on citizens, leaders from all levels, from the community level up to
take ownership of this election.”
Barkie also called on young men and women to speak up.
“You have the power to decide who will represent you in Parliament, respect the
process, respect others and work with the Electoral Commission and the police
to deliver a free and fair election.”
Comments
Post a Comment