United Party’s Pato unseated by Pangu’s Kaeok in Wapenamanda
News that matter in Papua New Guinea
United Party’s Pato
unseated by Pangu’s Kaeok in Wapenamanda
PORT MORESBY: Pangu Pati’s Miki Kaeok turned into a political giant-slayer
when he unseated incumbent Wapenamanda MP Rimbink Pato (United Party) yesterday
(Aug 1, 2022).
Kaeok knocked out Pato when he passed the absolute majority with 29,256 votes,
edging the two-term MP Pato to runner-up who was at 22,692.
The second-runner up was Danny Terep Katie (Independent – 16,635).
The seat was contested by 21 candidates.
Pato was a former Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces the news break and a few General Election 2022 news updates reported by The National:
Giant-slayer Kaeok
wins
August 2, 2022The
NationalMain Stories
Kaeok knocked out Pato when he passed the absolute majority with 29,256 votes,
edging the two-term MP Pato to runner-up who was at 22,692.
The second-runner up was Danny Terep Katie (Independent – 16,635).
The seat was contested by 21 candidates.
Pato was a former Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister.
Kaeok said he won because the voters knew he had done much for them.
“They know I can deliver the services that they need,” he added.
“As a member of the Pangu-led Government, I plan on building Wapenamanda and
will prioritise human resources development in my five-year term.”
Kaeok said he was delighted to join the Pangu camp with more than 20 MPs
declared so far.
Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, who was at Jackson International Airport
yesterday to receive Kaeok, denied that there was disharmony in Pangu Pati
between MPs from Mamose and the Highlands.
Rosso, who was re-elected as Lae MP, said: “The whole purpose of Pangu is Papua
and New Guinea unite. Pangu does not belong to Mamose or Morobe or Sepik or the
Highlands.
“Pangu is a nationalistic party and represents the nation, not one particular
province or region.
“And we stand united as a party, with our party leader, the Prime Minister
James Marape.
“We will support him to form the next Government with our coalition partners.”
East Sepik official arrested for alleged
breaching of process
AN ELECTION official
in East Sepik was arrested on Saturday for allegedly not following the counting
procedure for the Angoram Open seat, police say.
East Sepik Provincial Commander Supt Albert Beli said John Kambak, the
Returning Officer for Angoram Open, was charged with abuse of office. He was
released on a K1,000 police bail.
It was alleged that during the of counting of ballot boxes for the Angoram
seat, Kumbak failed to conduct ballot returns and quality checks with the
scrutineers, to reconcile the figures.
Kumbak was also allegedly involved in the handling of a ballot box from
Karawari village to Wewak and back.
Beli said the alleged incident was reported last Friday by five candidates
contesting the Angoram seat.
“Candidate Charlies Andrew and four other candidates reported the incident
which led to the arrest,” he said.
Late Nakin wins in North Bougainville
INCUMBENT North
Bougainville MP William Nakin, who passed away after polling on July 12, has
won the seat.
The late Nakin, who crossed the absolute majority with 14,266 votes, beat 15
candidates to defend the seat successfully.
The runner-up was Louta Atoi (People’s Party – 11,171 votes).
And the Electoral Commission will have to set a date as soon as possible to
hold a by-election to fill the vacant office of North Bougainville.
Nakin was first elected as MP in the last general election (10th Parliament) in
2017 and was in the bi-partisan committee on Bougainville matters.
He joined the Government on Sept 10, 2019 and was appointed assistant Speaker
of Parliament on Sept 1, 2020.
Penalties for those who delay counting
ANY public servant
found to be delaying the counting of votes can be charged with interfering in
an election, and fined K500 or be jailed for a month.
Ivan Pomaleu, the chairman of the Inter-Department Election Committee, and
secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council,
said it was important that all writs be returned by Friday, Aug 5.
“The extension of the date of the return of writs will cost taxpayers more
money to adequately complete the election process,” he said.
“Therefore, it is necessary for me to direct that any public servants causing
delays in the counting must be charged for interfering in an election.
“Section 178(1)(h) of the Organic Law on elections says that inciting or
encouraging, whether publicly or otherwise, disturbances to interfere in an
election is an offence.”
He said the penalty was a fine not exceeding K500, or imprisonment for a term
not exceeding one month, or both.
“These provisions of the Organic Law on elections must be implemented,” he
said.
“Other offences under the Public Service Management Act are to be explored. The
Electoral Commission has the primary mandate to deliver all elections, but all
the State agencies including its employees are to stand in solidarity to
deliver the outcome of the 2022 National General Elections by Aug 5.”
Parliament sitting likely next Tuesday: Marape
PARLIAMENT will likely sit next Tuesday
following the return of writs on Friday, says Prime Minister James Marape.
He said that as of last Friday, Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai “was of the
opinion that almost 50 writs” had been returned to him.
On Sunday, Marape said 58 winners had been declared in the 118-seat Parliament.
The date for the return of writs was initially scheduled for July 29 before
being moved last week to Aug 12, then this week brought back to Aug 5.
“Parliament (will) possibly sit on Aug 9, next Tuesday,” Marape said.
“I was advised by the Justice secretary Eric Kwa that the previous proposed
date of Aug 12 was not gazetted,” he said.
“So it is now brought forward to the fifth anniversary of the return of writs
of the last parliament that falls on July 31, 2022.
“The intention to fix the date of the return of the writs is consistent with
the provision of the law.
“We look on our state solicitor, Justice Department, Prime Minister’s
Department, Electoral Commission and Office of Governor General to work (on
it).
“So they felt that Aug 5 is much closer to July 31.
“It gives the electoral commission the ability to (complete) the majority of
the counting (and) return the writs, and for him to issue the notice to the
party with the highest number of elected members to give them the opportunity
to form the government.”
Meanwhile Marape urged election officials and security personnel to ensure that
all the writs are returned before Friday.
Comments
Post a Comment