3,499 candidates battling it out for 118 Parliament seats in Papua New Guinea
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
3,499 candidates
battling it out for 118 Parliament seats in Papua New Guinea
PORT MORESBY: A total of 3,499 candidates has been
accepted by the Electoral Commission (EC) nationwide for General Election 2022
(GE22).
In 2017, a total of
3,340 candidates contested, fewer by 159.
Electoral commissioner
Simon Sinai said 142 women (167 in 2017) or four per cent of the total number
of candidates were contesting for the 118 seats in Parliament.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few GE22 news updates as reported by The National:
3,499 contesting
June 2, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
A TOTAL of 3,499
candidates has been accepted by the Electoral Commission (EC) nationwide for
the 2022 general election.
In 2017, a total of 3,340 candidates contested, fewer by 159.
Electoral commissioner Simon Sinai said 142 women (167 in 2017) or four per
cent of the total number of candidates were contesting for the 118 seats in
Parliament.
Provinces that saw women nominated are Morobe with the highest at 22, Central
15, Madang 14, Northern 11 and the National Capital District 10.
In 2012, 135 women contested with three succeeding in making into the House –
Delilah Gore (Sohe MP), Loujaya Kouza (Lae MP) and Julie Soso (Eastern
Highlands governor).
Sinai in a media statement said the highest number of nominations was Moresby
North-East with 76 candidates and Chimbu came in second with 75 candidates.
Other electorates that received fewer than 10 nominations include:
- Ialibu-Pangia – nine;
- Tari-Pori – nine;
- Hagen Central – nine;
- Pomio – nine;
- Rabaul – nine;
- South Bougainville –
nine;
- Moresby South – eight;
and,
- Bougainville provincial –
six.
Nominations
by regions has Highlands with 1,251 nominations, followed by Momase – 980 and
Southern – 921.
New Guinea Islands accepted 341 nominations.
Sinai said the election’s success depended on people’s cooperation.
“2022 general election is not for the EC, we are only managing the process to
ensure that you cast your votes and choose your leaders,” he added.
He reminded candidates to use the campaign period, from May 26 to July 1, to
spell out their policies and for voters to listen and make informed choices and
decisions at the polling booths. Polling is scheduled for July 2 to 22 and the
returning of election writs on or before July 29.
Police to probe
deaths, arrest killers in Huon Gulf
Police to probe
deaths, arrest killers in Huon Gulf
June 2, 2022The NationalMain Stories
“The investigations will cover all areas – the shooting, burning of vehicles,
arson, injuring of a woman and four men and the instigators of the
election-related confrontation and clash,” he said.
Singura said investigations would be thorough to ensure justice prevailed.
He said the ground situation was tense and “we appeal to both sides of the
political divide to come with information that will help our investigations”.
“Both parties have to work with us and get the investigations done quickly so
that those involved are identified and arrested,” he said.
“We are into the general election 2022 campaigning period.
“We cannot afford to have the shooting drag on without being solved. We are
trying to negotiate for peace. This is a police matter now and both sides
should not start anything again.”
Singura said the woman and four other men injured in the confrontation were
treated for minor injuries at the Angau Memorial Hospital.
Meanwhile, Morobe rural commander Chief Insp John Daviaga urged the warring
sides to remain calm while police investigate and try to maintain peace through
negotiations and reconciliations.
“The shooting and killing is not what Morobeans normally do,” he said. “But I
am satisfied with other districts that had remained peaceful since nominations.
“Please maintain peace for all until polling day so that Papua New Guineans can
cast their ballots peacefully.”
Cop: There’s no need for violence
HIGHLANDS Western End
commander Assistant Commissioner Rigga Neggi says there is no need for 2022
general election candidate supporters to attack each other.
“Behave civilly and fight it out through your ballots. There is no need to
tarnish the image of Papua New Guinea with violence,” he added.
He said there would be less trouble during the campaigning period if everyone
respected one another and were in their best behaviour.
“We have conducted enough pre-election awareness campaigns and the public
should know how to behave as we work together towards a peaceful and safe
election.”
Neggi said Papua New Guineans should strive for a safe and peaceful environment
for all to exercise their democratic rights, once every five years, to elect
their leaders without fear or favour.
Top cop commits to
safety
June 2, 2022The NationalMain Stories
POLICE will work with
all 2022 general election candidates in Southern Highlands to deliver a safe
and peaceful election, commander Chief Superintendent Daniel Yangen says.
“We all need to cooperate with Electoral Commission officials and supporters of
candidates to achieve a conducive environment for all to vote,” he added.
He said most of the election-related violence in the country were instigated by
supporters and Southern Highlanders must change their mindset.
“Let us all have a free, fair and safe election,” he said, adding that the 2017
violence must not recur.
Yangen said many people sold their votes during general elections and they
start complaining when those elected fail to deliver their promises.
“They have only themselves to blame (for electing them),” he added.
Former Mendi-Munihu MP De Kewanu, who is contesting on a People National
Congress Party ticket, said people now wanted violent-free elections to elect
good and reliable leaders.
“After five years, they are free to judge their performance and make a choice
when they cast their ballots (from July 2 to 22),”Kewanu said.
Locals contribute pigs, money to support
candidate
A crowd packed to
witness the endorsement of Mendi-Munihu Open candidate Raphael Tonpi last
Saturday. Late Sam Basil’s son Sam Basil Junior, United Labour Party leader
Lekwa Gure, Markham MP and Deputy Speaker Koni Iguan were also there to witness
the endorsement of their candidate at Kip village. – Nationalpic by PETER WARI
PEOPLE from more than
20 wards in the Lai-Valley local level government (LLG) area of Mendi-Munihu,
Southern Highlands, contributed pigs and money to support United Labour Party
(ULP) candidate Raphael Tonpi launch his election campaign.
Tonpi, a primary school teacher, resigned sometimes ago, hoping to lead his
people to bring development changes in the remote Kip village that has
elementary schools, Kip Primary, Lai-Valley High, Kip Health Centre and Kip
United Church Circuit.
He said his reasons for contesting the seat was due to negligence by elected
leaders to bring services to his people in the LLG and others, and also
resources were not distributed evenly.
“My people have been forgotten and they faced challenges accessing basic
government services,” he said.
“The area is fertile and people have numerous coffee blocks, they grow
varieties of vegetables but transporting them to the market has always been a
nightmare because of the poor road condition.
“The feeder road was constructed by the people themselves and they continuously
involve in community service to improve the road, schools, the health facility
and the mission area,” he said.
He said the coming together of all the wards in the LLG showed the frustration
they had for services and this time they want a good leader who will represent
them and be with them during turbulent times.
United Labour Party leader Lekwa Gure, who was present for Tonpi’s endorsement
on Saturday at Kip village, said the presentation of pigs and money to support
Tonpi for his election campaign meant a lot.
Gure was accompanied by Markham MP and Deputy Speaker Koni Iguan and the late
Sam Basil’s son Sam Basil Junior.
Candidate numbers drop in Oro
NORTHERN (Oro) has
recorded fewer candidates contesting the 2022 general election which is an
indication that people are better informed about politics, provincial election
manager Daisy Hombogani says.
Hombogani told The National that even with the new Popondetta
open seat recently created, there was a reduced number of candidates compared
to the 2017 election.
She was the assistant election manager in the last election during which
Northern saw a higher number of candidates contest.
Hombogani said even with the addition of the new Popondetta open seat, the
numbers were still lower than in 2012.
“Our people are better educated now than they were and we have seen a decrease
in the candidates contesting the election this year,” she said.
Police commander urges people to behave
ACTING Assistant
Commissioner of Police for Highlands Western End says candidates and their
supporters behaved well during the nomination and that needs to continue into
polling time.
“I want to commend the candidates in Hela, Enga and South Highlands for
maintaining peace and respect for one another during the nomination and this
attitude should remain until the return of writs,” said Assistant Commissioner
Rigga Neggi.
He said there were no reports of deaths in the three provinces under his
command and peace should be maintained.
“This shows that security personnel have been working hard to ensure that there
were no violence and trouble,” he said. Neggi said police were on alert since
the nomination but there were less trouble than expected.
“This is a positive indication that the public were behaving well and they must
maintain that until the election is over,” he said.
He said despite the fact that the provinces under Western End command had the
history in high rates of violence during election, the nomination period was
good.
“The public and the supporters of candidates should be in their best behaviour
so that they will be no violence and death,” he said.
He said security personnel in Hela, Enga and South Highlands had been working
to ensure the highways were safe.
Campaign on policies: Uguro
June 2, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Reacting to burning of Pangu Pati flags in several parts of the country besides
recent torching of five vehicles belonging to a cabinet minister, he said: “We
have to respect each other despite the different political affiliations.
“As an MP from Pangu Pati, I am disappointed with what some supporters did to
the flags.
“Burning the flags clearly shows people have no respect for the efforts by our
forefathers who united the nation.
“Pangu was the first party in the country, all other parties stemmed from it
(Pangu).”
Uguro urged 36 candidates challenging him for the Usino-Bundi open seat to
respect one and another.
He said in 2012 the total number of candidates that contested was 52, then it
dropped to 42 in the 2017 election and this year it was 37 initially, until one
candidate withdrew.
Uguro commended the candidate who withdrew and pledged his commitment to work
with him.
He further commented on students being involved on campaign trails: “I have
given directions already to students, teachers and schools not to engaged in
politics.
“School institutions and facilities must not be used for political purposes.
“The candidates and supporters should respect our state institutions and
students and do not engage them in any form of politics.
“Parents are strongly urged to protect their children from doing politics.
“Students must concentrate on their studies and stay away from politics.
Students can also learn from such occasions as part of their learning
experiences.”
Baing: Leaders should remind supporters to be
respectful
Meeting children … Sir
Philip Kapal (back) being swarmed by school children during his campaign in
Nondugl. Sir Philip, who is contesting the Jiwaka regional seat as an
independent candidate, wants to provide an honest and transparent leadership
which can serve people well in the way they always wanted.
FORMER MP and
contender for Markham Open Andrew Baing has condemned the recent acts of
election-related violence carried out by party supporters of certain political
parties.
“It’s really sad to see and hear about what happened to the member for Okapa
(Saki Soloma), that is not the way to go in the country.
“Voters need to choose candidates based on their policies, not resort to
violence like that,” he said.
Baing called on candidates, their supporters and the public to respect their
competitors.
He said leaders of political parties should remind their supporters to be
respectful.
Baing, who is running under a National Alliance (NA) party ticket, said people
should be involved in agriculture.
He said farmers in Markham were active cocoa and coffee growers contributing to
the national economy but rarely benefited from resources available to them such
as government grants or services improvement programme funds.
Baing believes in developing human resources at the district level.
Supporting his daughter (Jennifer Baing’s) decision to contest the Morobe
regional seat, he said: “I can see her being a good governor and creating more
of an impact because from what I have seen, the province has been slow to
implement projects and service delivery”.
Do not involve children in campaigns, says
Yanis
By REBECCA KUKU
THE National Office of
Child Safety and Family Services (NOCFS) has urged candidates and those
involved in the 2022 general election not to use children to campaign.
Chief executive officer Simon Yanis said his office would write to the office
of Police Commissioner, the Road Traffic Authority and the Electoral Commission
to look into this serious abuse of children.
“The National Office of Child and Family Services’ primary duty is to protect
children, and I am not happy to see children being used by candidates to
campaign for them during this election,” he said.
“The candidates that are doing this must know that this is a reflection of
their leadership.
“If you cannot protect the rights of little children what will you bring to the
table, how will you protect or fight for the rights of your people?”
Yanis said he would work with the Police, the Road Traffic Authority and the
Electoral Commission in arresting those who take advantage of children.
“Candidates and supporters who are reported using children will face the full
penalties under the Lukautim Pikinini Act for abusing children.”
Yanis said this did not just apply to candidates and political parties but to
parents as well.
“Do not use your children to make money during this campaign period, you want
to support candidates, you do so, dress yourself up and go stand in the heat of
the sun or get on the floaters across the city but do not use your children.”
Mothers pledge to prioritise safety, security
during election
MOTHERS living in the Moresby South electorate
of the National Capital District say they will prioritise safety and security
in this year’s general election.
The women said they wanted ongoing tribal fighting in their electorate
addressed.
Spokesman Joyce Haharoki said over the last three years their lives and those
of their children had been disrupted by ethnic groups fighting.
“This ongoing fighting has disrupted our children’s education, our jobs as most
times we are not able to go to work whenever there is fighting. These fights
close down schools, health facilities, even shops and the main market,” she
said.
“We are tired of this, we thank the current sitting MP Justin Tkatchenko, he
has brought services to our doorstep but how can we access these services
without security.
“So this year we will be voting for whoever comes to us with a realistic plan
on how the ongoing ethnic clashes will be addressed.”
Haharoki said they believed that their children have the right to grow up
without fear in a secure and safe community.
21 want Agarobe’s seat
June 2, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
He said in a statement yesterday that he aimed to continue his plans to empower
the people of Central to participate meaningfully in driving their economy.
“The province desperately needs to make aggressive revolutionary reforms to
catch up with time by empowering it to participate and drive its economy,” he
said.
Agarobe took office in 2017 after beating former governor and businessman Kila
Haoda with more than 40, 000 votes.
Sharing his experience for the last five years as the governor, he said the seat
came with a lot of responsibility.
“I have seen very excited young people raising their hands to take on this job
and I have given them the opportunity to present themselves,”
Agarobe said he would use his line of experience to rescue what the province needed
for its future.
He said in his tenure, he built the identity of Central by taking back what
belonged to them which resulted in the passing of the National Capital District
Act.
“The Act not only gives the province its share, it also enables the provincial
executives to sit as commissioners in discussions on the development of Port
Moresby,” he said.
He added in the statement that in the early years of independence and
post-independence, Central had the opportunity to run some contracts like the
city bus services and others but since the 1990s, none had been engaged with
the province.
“I have set the foundation of success through the NCD Act,” he said.
Pomoso to be reinstated after election
CHIEF Inspector
Timothy Pomoso will be reinstated as the Hela police commander following the
return of writs next month, a senior police officer says.
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police for Highlands Western End Command John
Kale said for the election period, Senior Inspector Robin Bore would be acting
in the position as the commander for Hela.
“Pomoso will be assisting Bore during the election period but he will return to
his position as the PPC after the election,” he said.
He said as for the suspension of Chief Inspector Teddy Agwi, his court case was
resolved last month with his exit.
On April 1, The National reported that Hela commander Agwi was suspended for 21
days following a gun battle issue in Tari.
Agwi was suspended because there was no proper command and control to local
police in Tari which resulted in a gun battle between the warlords and the
local police.
Former governor wants to develop Jomard
Passage
Dangerous spectacle …
Road Traffic Authority chief executive officer Nelson Terema has reminded road
users that overloading is a serious and dangerous offence. “General election
time is busy and crowded everywhere. Road users and motorists must exercise more
care and caution,” he said. “Penalties, including revocation of driving
licences will be imposed on offenders.”– Nationalpic by Kennedy Bani
FORMER Milne Bay
Governor (2012-2017) Titus Philemon is keen to develop the much talked about
yet forgotten Jomard Passage.
“That will be one of the projects if I am elected to office again,” he added.
He said Jomard Passage would be a major tourism revenue earner when fully
developed.
Philemon, who is locked in an 18-corner electoral fight for Milne Bay regional,
is on his General Election 2022 campaign trail in the province.
“I also want to complete projects that I started when I was governor. The
projects were abandoned by the 2017 elected leaders,” he added.
The projects are:
- AGAUN-MAGARIDA Road;
- MILNE Bay Teachers College;
- A MARITIME Training School;
- OTHER major road projects
– Gogosiba-Niesa Road, Makamaka Road, Rabaraba-Ikara Road, Sirisiri-Aragip
Road bridges, Goodenough Island ring-road, Trans Island highway (Esaála),
Communication infrastructure;
- RURAL Housing;
- GEHUA satellite town; and
- THE Church-Government
partnership programme.
“I also want to empower youths to be useful
citizens. Instead of fighting with guns, let us provide them opportunities and
activities that will keep them off the streets.
“The Milne Bay people have been short-changed by elected leaders in various
services,” he added.
The Jomard Passage is a navigatable straight in Milne Bay province.
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