NCD Quality checks resume today after it was suspended last night. Moresby South boxes are still being checked due to ongoing disruptions, objections and complaints being made by the scrutineers.
NCD Election manager, Mr. Kila Ralai said that the slow pace of the check is due to the ongoing complaints being raised by the scrutineers. “The time for asking for serial numbers of the boxes was during the primary count, these questions along with the information was given during that time.
Now it’s just going through the papers and confirming the numbers in each box,” Mr. Ralai said. He also cleared the air surrounding the queried boxes, stating that for those that are queried, by law will still go through the QC.
“Those Wanigela Boxes still have to be checked as well despite them being queried. They are not disputed. Only a court order supplied with sufficient evidence can have us exclude them from the process,” he added. He advised that it was frustrating to both him and his officials as the scrutineers continually brought up the same issues, causing much delay and as a result wasted precious time needed for counting.
Ralai is adamant that he and his officials will not be tolerating any objections made by the scrutineers as time is running out for them to deliver a leader for the NCD regional seat. So far, they have been given another extension to complete counting and he is hopeful that they pull through and deliver before the deadline.
They have until the 26th of this month to wrap up.