PM to Papua New Guineans: Help ensure a peaceful General Election 2022
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
Prime Minister James Marape and wife Rachael at Gulf’s Iokea village. – Nationalpic by REBECCA KUKU
PM to Papua New Guineans: Help ensure a
peaceful General Election 2022
PORT MORESBY: Prime Minister James Marape has appealed
to Papua New Guineans, especially those in Tari-Pori and Hela, to help ensure a
peaceful General Election 2022 (GE22).
“All have the right to
campaign and all are welcome,” he said.
“Candidates must be free
to campaign to talk about policies and the people must be free to vote safely,”
he added.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few GE22 news updates as published by The National:
Marape appeals for
calm
June 14, 2022The NationalMain Stories
“All have the right to campaign and all are welcome,” he said.
“Candidates must be free to campaign to talk about policies and the people must
be free to vote safely.”
Marape made his appeal at his election rally in front of thousands of people in
Tari on Friday.
“I am thankful that the GE22 campaigning in Hela to date has been very
peaceful,” he said.
“Please continue to be in your beast behaviour, respect the laws of your
country. You have not carried bush knives, axes and guns and have not
intimidated other candidates – something for which I thank the people of Hela.
“Such good behaviour to continue.
“I want this to be a place of free campaign for all candidates.
“Whoever is contesting for the regional seat or Tari-Pori are welcome to
campaign here.
“In 2017, you did not elect me as prime minister, you elected me as your MP for
a third time.
“But by the grace of God, and with the support of 101 MPs, we were given the
prime ministership.”
PM promises new road for Gulf’s Iokea village
PRIME Minister James
Marape has promised the people of Iokea in Gulf that they will have a new road
linking them to the Hiritano Highway.
Marape made this known to the Gulf people on Sunday during the rally for Pangu
Pati candidate Thomas Opa, who is contesting the Kerema open.
Marape told the people he was saddened by the state of road leading from the
main highway into Iokea village.
“I come into this village and my heart bleeds,” he said.
“You saw missionaries 100 years ago, you saw white man 100 years ago, but you
still travel on bad road into your village, no power is connected to your
village.
“This cannot be the lifestyle into the next 40 years – it must change.
“Leadership is what makes or breaks this country,” he said.
Marape said this when addressing a big crowd from all over Gulf who congregated
at Iokea on Sunday for a campaign rally for Opa.
Marape was accompanied by wife Rachael and Public Service Minister and Nuku MP
Joe Sungi.
Marape said he would be visiting Iokea for a second time if Opa is declared the
Kerema MP.
“I want to come back to Kerema and ‘Iok City’ for the win celebration party of
Thomas Opa,” he said.
“I claim this in faith because I’ve seen him and his dedication for the people
of Kerema, Gulf and PNG.
“Thomas is one of the young leaders who want to assist me in taking back what
is your rightful inheritance, so that no-one is left behind.
“He tells me he’s 43 years old. Next year, we will celebrate his 44th birthday
with a new road that comes from the turnoff, down to his village here.”
“This is for a village that has given governors-general, ministers, public
servants, and missionaries.”
Pangu wants to deliver economic independence
Prime Minister James
Marape and wife Rachael at Gulf’s Iokea village. – Nationalpic by REBECCA KUKU
By REBECCA KUKU
PRIME Minister James
Marape has urged the people to give Pangu Pati another five years in Government
and see what the party can do for the country.
Marape, who is also the party leader, said Pangu had given political
independence to Papua New Guinea in 1975, and now wanted to give people
economic independence.
“We’ve had just three years as a government, give us another five years and see
what we can do, if we fail to deliver then you can vote us out in 2027,” he
said.
He made this statement while in Iokea, Gulf, to show support for Pangu’s Kerema
open candidate Thomas Opa.
Marape reiterated that Pangu was standing for economic independence.
“We don’t just want to talk about education, health, and infrastructure; we
want to give our people the economic independence they deserve.
“When Pangu first became the government, we strived to take back PNG and we
have strived to give our people economic independence.
“We have made agriculture a priority, coffee was around K3.50 per kilo, today
coffee price has risen to K12.50 per kilo.
“The Porgera mine, PNG used to own just five per cent, now we own 51 per cent,
and I thank Barrick for their understanding, that it’s time we take back what
is ours.
“Pangu government is building roads, hospitals, infrastructures, but we’ve had
only three years, give Pangu another five years, and see what the party will
do, see what we are talking about.”
Marape said Pangu could talk about education, health, infrastructure, roads,
electricity like other parties but all that was by default, the right of all
citizens to have access to this. “So we are not just talking about, education,
health, infrastructure, roads, electricity, we are also talking about economic
independence,” he said.
“Pangu Party will come back as government.
“See you on the other side of the election.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Public Service and MP for Nuku, Joe Sungi, who accompanied
Marape to Iokea to show support for Opa told the people to choose wisely this
election.
“At the polling booth, you will have five minutes to decide who will represent
you in the next five years,” he said.
“Pangu is here to stay, and we will form the government, so remember that when
you go to the polling booths.”
Police say seven dead in fighting ignited by
feud at volleyball tourney
Seven people are dead after a fight between
settlers in Wewak, East Sepik, police commander Superintendent Albert Beli
says.
The fight, between Murik settlers in Basis and Mengar villagers, was sparked by
a feud at a volleyball competition sponsored by a GE22 candidate. However, Beli
said normalcy was restored on Friday and urged students and the public to
resume classes and work respectively.
He added that both parties (Mengar and Murik settlers) would conduct a
“customary handshake” (reconciliation) tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Wewak town
police station.
The displaced Murik settlers are temporarily being accommodated in the Somare
Stadium.
Meanwhile on Friday, Jiwaka’s North Waghi candidate Jack Ambang (People’s
Movement For Change) was arrested after his supporters allegedly smashed up a
truck belonging to incumbent MP Dr Fabian Pok in Banz.
“Pok was not in the car. His driver was just passing through when Ambung’s
supporters (allegedly) launched the attack,” Commander Superintendent Gideon
Kauke said.
“They smashed the truck’s windows,” he said, adding that Ambang was released on
bail.
Matter on Hagen RO
dropped
June 14, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Noifa, through his lawyer Isaac Emmanuel at National Court in Waignai applied
to have the proceeding discontinued after Sinai served him with the decision of
appointing Paias Nop as the new Hagen RO.
Emmanuel said: “It is confirmed through Sinai’s affidavit that he had appointed
another person as Hagen RO.
“Noifa filed the proceeding basically challenging Willie Ropa’s appointment
because Ropa was also appointed as RO, but now that Sinai has appointed Nop,
the proceeding has no use to proceed.”
Sinai’s lawyer Lasen Tangua and Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa representing
State did not object to Emmanuel’s application.
Judge Justice Joseph Yagi, when granting discontinuation application, ordered
for the parties to pay their own costs.
The originating summons in this matter arose when Sinai revoked Noifa’s
appointment and said Ropa was the duly appointed Hagen RO following the Supreme
Court’s decision on the matter between incumbent Hagen MP William Duma and
Sinai on May 26.
Noifa challenged Sinai’s decision, saying his appointment was lawful because he
followed the process.
He said he applied for the position when it was advertised, was shortlisted and
wrote to Sinai’s office accepting the offer when his name came out on the list.
Noifa said he was the duly appointed RO because his name was listed on the
National Gazettal Notice No. G347, published on May 6.
No health services for district: Director
Meeting of security
forces … Southern Highlands police commander Supt George Kakas (left) meeting
PNGDF commander’s representative Col Michael Banda (in front) of Mendi police
station last week as the two forces synchronised moves in preparation for
polling. Col Banda is the PNGDF chief of joint operations branch. – Photo
courtesy of the PNGDF CIMIC team.
By GLORIA BAUAI
KUMURA Foundation
director Vincent Kumura, contesting for the Usino-Bundi seat for the second
time, says there are no health services, especially in Angai-Kumura Gama area
along the Ramu River delta.
“Since the Government is not delivering health services to the rural folk, we
have to travel with some first aid kits and basic antibiotics to help the
people while on our election campaign trail,” he added.
Kumura, from Bundi’s Yandera, is a volunteer humanitarian who set up his own
church-based foundation in 2017 to support healthcare, education, eco-tourism
and other much needed projects for his remote, service-starved district
bordering between Madang and Chimbu.
“I started with nothing, just my heart to serve and the intention to help the
disadvantaged people who need basic health services,” he said.
Candidates warned not to threaten voters
POLICE in Wau, Morobe,
have warned candidates contesting the new Wau-Waria electorate to stop
intimidating and threatening people to vote for them.
Morobe police commander Supt Jacob Singura said police manpower in Wau had been
boosted and they would arrest those candidates breaching electoral laws.
Singura said police would be conducting checks on candidates’ vehicles on major
roads leading into Wau town after receiving reports of firearms being carried
around by candidates.
“You don’t’ want to be arrested and missed out on the election, so keep your
campaigning activities within the electoral laws,” he said.
Singura said police in Wau have received reports that some candidates were
going around with firearms and were threatening voters to vote for them to prevent
their eviction from their homes in Wau.
“Observations from police also revealed that some candidates are removing
burning and destroying posters, meeting houses and banners of other candidates
as well,” he said.
“This is not leadership.
“Let us respect the rights of other candidate as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wau police station commander Snr Insp Leo Kaikas said police in Wau
were trying to carry out electoral awareness but lack of fuel was affecting
their mobility.
Kaikas appealed to the district administration to help with fuel so that they
could carry out the awareness before the start of polling.
He also called on policemen not to escort candidates in their campaign.
“We will deal with any policeman escorting candidates,” he said.
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