Judge cautions Governor Peter Yama

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Judge cautions Governor Peter Yama

PORT MORESBY: Judge Joseph Yagi says it is an abuse of process if available avenues are not utilised.

He made the remarks regarding Madang Governor Peter Yama’s matter seeking to define the role of police during general elections (GEs).

Yama’s lawyer told the National Court that policemen involved in election process in Madang had allegedly threatened Yama’s polling officials and scrutineers.

He said this may affect the outcome of election as counting was ongoing.

Judge Yagi said this was criminal conduct and a formal complaint needed to be laid and have the policemen arrested and charged.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below the news break and a few GE22 news updates published by The National:

Judge cautions Yama

July 28, 2022The NationalMain Stories

NATIONAL Court judge Joseph Yagi says it is an abuse of process if available avenues are not utilised.
He made this remarks regarding Madang governor Peter Yama’s matter seeking to define the role of police during general election which was mentioned at the Waigani National Court yesterday.
Yama’s lawyer told the court that police officers involved in election process in Madang had allegedly threatened Yama’s polling officials and scrutineers.
He said this may affect the outcome of election as counting was currently ongoing.
Judge Yagi said this was criminal conduct and a formal complaint needed to be laid and have the police officers arrested and charged.
“What they are doing is an offence under the law. Why can’t your client lay a complaint and have those police officers arrested?
“Why should the court be involved?
“If there is an available process and you are not utilising that process, it is an abuse,” Judge Yagi said.
Judge Yagi said if there was evidence of criminal misconduct, those should be put into writing and be reported as police officers were not above the law.
“If they interfere, there are available remedies
The matter came to court on Tuesday by way of an urgent application.
Yama’s lawyer advised the court on Tuesday that he needed to amend information on the originating summons to name the State as a party as well as to include Yama’s primary rights that were affected.
Yama’s lawyer said yesterday that they had amended the originating summons but had not served relevant documents on the State yet.
Russel Uware from the Office of Solicitor General representing the defendants asked if relevant documents could be served on the Solicitor General’s office.

Law and order priority

July 28, 2022The NationalMain Stories

 

By LULU MARK
LAW and order problems have affected business houses and communities in West New Britain (WNB) for too long and have to be addressed, Talasea’s just-elected representative Freddie Reu Kumai says.
Kumai, on a People’s Party card in a 32-candidate electoral race, was declared on Tuesday.
He is a businessman and former manager of Digicel Cup rugby league team Kimbe Cutters.
“We faced a lot of challenges in the province,” he said.
“Law and order situation have affected many business houses, individuals, parents and children.
“We need to put time and resources into addressing the situation in WNB.”
Kumai said addressing law and order issues in the Talasea district of Kimbe Urban Local Level Government was something he really wanted to drive in his election campaign.
“After the formation of our government, when I return, I will work with the public servants and authorities here to address law and order in the province.
“Those who voted for me or didn’t vote me, I stand here to represent all the people of Talasea.
“I thank the Marape government for splitting the Talasea electorate into two and today I make a promise to help us all the people of Talasea that I will give my best to serve.
He also thanked his supporters and the other candidates for a peaceful and successful election.
“It was a very challenging race .”

 

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Who will pay for extension, asks official

By ZACHERY PER
EASTERN Highlands election manager Gore Kaupa says the extension of the deadline for the return of writs for the General Election 2022 (GE22) is not good.
Kaupa said that although the extension would allow more time to complete counting and declarations, who would pay for the extended days.
He yesterday told counting officials, scrutineers and election officials in the Daulo counting centre that they had no money to finance operations for the extended days.
However, he noted that more time was needed to complete the election process, and that the Government needed to find money to finance the extended days.
Kaupa thanked the eight district returning officers (ROs) and their assistants for a job well done in completing all primary counts for the eight open seats in Eastern Highlands.
He said Goroka, Lufa and Unggai-Bena went into elimination process while Okapa, Obura-Wonenara, Kainantu and Henganofi electorates were into quality checks.
Kaupa said Daulo also should have gone into eliminations, but was faced with a situation where the scrutineers of candidates disputed the final tallies and eliminations was deferred to today.

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Three LLGs in Bogia, Madang head into quality checks

By LORRAINE JIMAL
THREE local level governments (LLGs) in Bogia district, Madang are expected to do quality checks today and start the elimination process tomorrow.
Assistant returning officer (ARO) for Yawar LLG, Chris Banak, said for his district 17 ballot boxes had been counted both day and night and completed yesterday.
Banak said the counting was done in Yawar chamber in the tents with security by police and military personnel and the local police.
Yabu ARO Gilbert Ruambik said they completed their seven ballot boxes on Monday and were awaiting other two LLGs to complete their counting to proceed to quality checks and elimination.
He said they had 40 counting officials who counted for three days.
Almami ARO, Panchito Amepou, said they completed their 16 ballot boxes as well as quality checks and completed yesterday and submitted the results to returning officer.
“We are trying to fit in all the work and finished on time as schedule to written the writs to avoid any problems,” he said.
Amepou said there were no issues during polling and counting.
He added that the three LLG AROs thanked the people for their understanding and cooperation during polling and counting and urged them to maintain it with the declarations as well.

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Wong reclaims seat for second term

INCUMBENT member for Gazelle Open and United Resources Party (URP) deputy leader Jelta Wong will serve his second term in Parliament after retaining his seat in the General Election 2022 (GE22) yesterday.
Wong, 44, is the third candidate in East New Britain to be declared a Member of Parliament.
Returning officer (RO) John Wartovo, when officially declaring Wong at 2.30 pm yesterday, said after the 31st and final exclusion Wong scored 9,348 votes,
Wartovo said that Wong was 2,975 ahead of National Alliance candidate and former Gazelle MP Malakai Tabar who polled 6,373 to win.
He said that the absolute majority was 7,861.
First time Gazelle Open seat contender and Liberal Party candidate Paul Raia bowed out of the contest in the 30th exclusion.
He left with a total of 5,263 votes that was distributed to the two remaining contenders Wong and Tabar.
In his maiden speech, Wong thanked God for making his victory possible.
Leading from the primary counts, it was a tough race for Wong.
He was up against 32 other candidates in the race for the Gazelle Open seat.
He commended fellow candidates for putting up a good race.
He also thanked the international observers who visited the province, security personnel and the polling and counting officials.
Wong said he was pleased with the commitment they had shown throughout the election period.
“I am pleased and very happy with the people of Gazelle and the scrutineers and security personnel who made sure in ensuring that the district had gone through and witnessed a free, fair and transparent election,” he said.
Wong said that he would continue the projects initiated by the Gazelle District Development Authority (DDA) in the last term.
He also appealed to the local leaders to put aside their differences and unite in order to serve the people well.
He paid tribute to the previous ENB provincial government members who had contributed meaningfully to the development of the province namely Nakikus Konga, Emil Tammur and Dr Allan Marat and thanked them for their service.
Wong also added that he hoped to work closely with all the ENB leaders and the provincial administration in order to bring development to the people and the province.
He also said that he had hoped to chart a way forward for the province over the next five years with its leaders.