Ballot boxes redirected from SHP to Hela, Enga: EC Sinai
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Ballot boxes redirected
from SHP to Hela, Enga: EC Sinai
PORT MORESBY: Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai has
confirmed that he issued instructions to redirect two containers of empty
ballot boxes from Southern Highlands (SHP) to Hela and Enga.
This is after police
intercepted a container truck transiting from SHP to Hela and took possession
of the vehicle and other containers carrying materials at the Mendi police
station over the weekend.
“I confirm that on June
22, 2022, I instructed the commission’s logistics convoy to redirect two
containers of empty metal ballot boxes from SHP to Hela and Enga,” he added.
He said due to an
ongoing General Election 2017 petition, SHP was not able to access te
containers to obtain non-disputed empty metal ballot boxes at the time of the
dispatch of the materials,” Sinai said.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few General Election 2022 news updates published by The National:
Ballot boxes
redirected: Sinai
June 28, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
This is after police intercepted a container truck transiting from SHP to Hela
and took possession of the vehicle and other containers carrying materials at
the Mendi Police Station over the weekend.
“I confirm that on June 22, I instructed the PNGEC (Electoral Commission)
logistics convoy to redirect two containers of empty metal ballot boxes from
SHP to Hela and Enga,” Sinai said.
He said due to an ongoing 2017 election petition, SHP was not able to access
the containers to obtain non-disputed empty metal ballot boxes at the time of
the dispatch of the materials.
“PNGEC then sent three containers of empty ballot boxes to SHP.
“While they were in transit to SHP, an approval was granted to access the
containers, therefore confirming the stock-take of empty ballot boxes.”
The PNGECthen identified that SHP would no longer need the materials and redirected
the containers to Hela and Enga as materials allocated for both provinces were
delayed.
“I made a decision and instructed the convoy to redirect to ensure these
provinces have enough ballot boxes when polling begins on July 4.” Sinai added.
In addition, he said sensitive election materials such as ballot boxes, inks,
candidate posters and rolls were not included in the containers as all were
delivered by air transport.
Meanwhile, Southern Highlands polling begins on July 8, a further planned shipment
of boxes has already been dispatched and is expected to arrive in time for
polling.
ROs complete training on polling and counting
ROs and assistants
from Morobe during training on counting yesterday. – Nationalpics by EHEYUC
SESERU
FORTY-nine returning officers and their assistants in Morobe
have under-gone a two-day refresher training on polling and counting.
The 10 returning officers and 39 assistants (AROs) from 34 local level
governments (LLGs) are preparing for polling on Monday. Provincial election
manager Simon Soheke said they went through polling on Sunday and counting
processes yesterday.
“They knew a lot of things, but we just recapped on a few areas. Refresher on
polling took a day and we went through with them about counting process. We
went through the new counting strategy, to count in LLGs,” Soheke said.
He said election materials for the districts would be distributed today.
“The materials will be distributed depending on availability of funds and how
fast cash advances are paid to returning officers to easily coordinate
logistics and other operations.
“Just the funds need to come quickly for operations. The delay was in
transferring funds into our (provincial) subsidiary account. We made our claims
to Treasury to release cheques.”
Soheke said training for candidates and their scrutineers would be towards the
end of the week. 2,975 officials in 425 teams would be involved in polling.
Each team will have seven officials.
Meanwhile, Soheke said he did not have anything to say about the revocation and
appointment of the new returning officer for Finschhafen.
“He was appointed by the commission, so I am just ready to work with whoever
the commission appoints. It’s just the people on the ground,” Soheke said.
Security personnel prepared for polling, says
Neggi
SECURITY
preparations for polling next week is on track, says Highlands Eastern End
commander Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Chief Superintendent Rigga
Neggi.
In a meeting last week in Mt Hagen with the PNG Defence Force Highlands
contingent commander Lt-Col Gabriel Gwaibo, Correctional Service (CIS)
Highlands commander Supt Fedelis Kaski, Highlands Eastern End deputy police
commander ACP Joseph Tondop and Western Highlands police commander Supt John
Sagom, Neggi said that all was set to go.
Neggi said the security contingent was out in full force to ensure that polling
would be peaceful.
He said with the preferential voting system, a voter would have the opportunity
to elect three candidates of his or her choice.
Neggi said members of security force would make sure trouble-free polling in
Western Highlands, Chimbu and Jiwaka.
He warned that people must be mindful of their actions.
“As we are prepared, I’m appealing to the people not to create any problems at
the booths,” Neggi said.
Tondop also warned candidates and supporters not to carry any weapons.
Gwaibo said: “We will work closely with police to ensure this election flows
smoothly so that no lives or properties are affected.”
PWDs need election
materials
June 28, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
YOUTHS with
disabilities in the National Capital District (NCD) are calling on the
Electoral Commission to provide election materials that are inclusive of all
persons with all kinds of disabilities.
PNG Youths With Disability Secretary Patrick Samar told The National,
hundreds of them had not voted in past elections due to many challenges.
“We are grateful that the commission has plans to set up strategic locations
for us to vote in this election,” he said.
“However, apart from having polling booths that are inclusive of us, there are
other specific materials that needed to be provided to make polling more
accessible and inclusive for all of us.”
Samar said there are so many different types of disabilities that the
commission needed to consider if they had plans to deliver an election that was
not only free, fair and safe but also one that was inclusive of all members of
society.
“The vision impaired would need braille to help them read the ballot papers and
cast their votes according to their preferences while others like myself with
dyslexia where reading, writing and speaking can be difficult and overwhelming
would need time to process information,” he said. “Those with hearing
impairment would need sign language interpreters at the polling booths and
others in wheelchairs including those without hands would also need help at the
polling booths.”
Samar said all these factors were vital and should be considered if the EC was
keen on providing an election that was inclusive of all persons with disability
(PWDs) not only in the city but all across the country.
He said although his group which came into existence recently in 2020 was
affiliated with the Assembly of Persons with Disability in the country, their
aim was to carry out awareness on educating people about their existence with
only one key message.
“Don’t look at our disabilities,” he said.
“Look at our abilities.”
Briefs
Young eligible voters
including students from the University of Papua New Guinea and young persons
with disabilities sign their pledge to vote in the NGE2022 at the Youth Voter
Festival last Friday. – Picture supplied by International Foundation for
Electoral Systems (IFES).
Force set for GE22
POLICE Minister William Onglo says the Joint Security Task Force (JSTF) set for
the General Election 2022 (GE22) will definitely ensure election is free, fair
and safe. “In other countries security forces are not used in elections, but in
PNG we need security because of our bad attitude, threats, intimidation and
insecure scenarios in our society,” he said.
Call for amendments
PAPUA New Guinea Party leader Belden Namah promises that he will amend the
constitution to allow one- tenth of the country’s budget towards Church related
work. The Vanimo Green MP said: “This money is not to build church, building
church comes out of our own tithes and offerings where we give on every Sunday
or Sabbath. This money is to help the work of the church in the church-run
schools and hospitals in the country.”
Appeal to officers
MOROBE police commander, Supt Jacob Singura has urged police personnel,
including reservists, to carry out their duties legally and formally during
General Election 2022 (GE22) and beyond. Singura said this during the signing
of oaths for 65 police reservists from Eastern Highlands who attended a five
weeks training on policing in Lae. Morobe senior provincial magistrate Pious
Tabil told the reservists that the promise they made to serve the constabulary
was a covenant with God.
Fest helps raise awareness among young people
A ‘youth voter
festival’ was held over the weekend in Port Moresby to raise young people’s
interest, participation and inform young eligible voters in General Election
2022 (GE22).
This was the second festival hosted by the International Foundation for
Electoral Systems (IFES) in Papua New Guinea, the first was held in Eastern
Highlands earlier this month.
IFES and other donors were supporting the PNG Electoral Commission to ensure
there was maximum participation of eligible youth, women and persons with
disabilities in the GE22.
A total of 200 youths including persons with disabilities attended the one-day
event at Nature Park in Port Moresby.
At the festival, an array of fun activities included quiz competitions,
raffles, scavenger hunt and performances by popular PNG artists Mereani Masani
and DJ Dirty Fingers.
The participants also took part in a polling simulation to ensure that the
youth become familiarised with polling places procedures and how to vote.
“The youth voter festival will help me understand the voting process.
“This is my first time to vote and I am looking forward to learning so that on
polling day, I know where to go and what to do.
“I know the kind of leader I want to represent my voice in Parliament and I
understand that my vote counts,” said one of the participants, Amanda Soalkia.
The festival was an initiative by IFES and supported by the United States
Agency for International Development and the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade Australia.
Push for cleaner environment
FORMER defence aviation officer Jotham Keleino
(Independent), who is contesting the Morobe regional seat, is pushing the
agenda for a clean environment for Papua New Guineans and the country.
“A Government must strictly regulate industrial companies and hold
accountable,” he said, using the Deep Sea Tailings Placement (DSTP) as an
example.
“This method of disposal has already been approved and Wafi-Golpu developers
are just waiting for the Government to be formed after General Election 2022
(GE22) to commence operations.
“Apart from DSTP, there are so many social and environmental injustices in
Morobe, being the industrial hub of the nation with many major economic
projects.”
“Over the years, regulations were not adhered to and loopholes in legislations
were exploited.
“For example, fish cannery waste in Malahang, the proposed coal power plant in
Tidal Basin, unregulated logging in remote Morobe, to name a few.”
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