Chaos in Port Moresby city as videos and images of armed men, believed to be opportunists, taking advantage of the election-related incident yesterday, went on a rampage causing destruction in almost every part of the Nation’s capital. Police reports say the fighting was is in areas like Gordons, Erima, Waigani, Hohola, Tokarara, Koki, 2 Mile, Rainbow, and Gerehu to name a few between 10 until 11:30 am. Many schools in the city are also closed at this time while others that were open have advised parents for earlier pickups and drop-offs for today. Police sources say they are stretched thin…
Author: Emmanuel MAIPE
Counting for the newly created Kairuku open seat has now been further delayed after the counting officials did not receive a response from the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission yet on their demands for their overdue allowances to be paid to them. The Returning Officer (RO), Mr. Henry Oa, said they cannot continue now because the counting teams still stand by their demand; therefore, they have decided to move counting to Monday 25th July. “We already spoke with an administrative officer for the PNG electoral commission, and he has taken the demands back to the headquarters,” said the RO. He said…
There are two ballot boxes left to be counted for the Kairuku Open seat, but these two boxes might not be counted if the counting officials are not paid their allowances. The officials claim they have not been paid since day one of counting at the Murray Barracks in Port Moresby almost two weeks ago, and are now demanding the Returning Officer to meet with them today to resolve their grievances before they can continue with counting to complete the last two boxes. The officials mostly come from the remote and distant parts of the electorate and had to hire…
Four candidates contesting the Koroba Kupiago Open Seat in the Hela province are now calling on the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Simon Siani, to order the cancelation of 12 ballot boxes that are currently in dispute. According to one of the candidates Mr. Jonathan Aiene, the ballot boxes for the Kupiago basin were tempered with allegedly by the supporters of the incumbent member, and that denied the democratic process and the rights for the people to cast their votes for a leader of their choosing. Mr. Aiene claimed that the boxes arrived at the polling site on July…
Polling will still continue for some electorates in the East Sepik province due to the late insertion of polling teams due to logistical problems faced with the transportation of teams. According to the Provincial Election Manager Mr. James Piapia, the Ambunti-Dreikikier and Angoram districts still have a couple of wards to go to the polls because the polling teams were unable to get into some areas of the district sooner due to issues with fuel for transportation. Apart from this, he said other districts like Yangoru Sausia, Maprik, Wewak and Wosera Gawi have wrapped up polling and should progress onto counting this…
The National Capital District (NCD) Election Manager Mr. Kila Ralai has re-assured the residents of the city that he will continue in his role until the 2022 National General Election is complete. Mr. Ralai made this announcement after taking questions and criticism from the candidates from Moresby North- East on the way he as the election manager, is managing the election process that has resulted in a further delay to polling. Initially he intended to resign as NCD Election Manager, but as things calmed down and with the blessing of the candidates, Mr. Ralai said he will continue his duty…
The polling day for the Moresby North- East electorate in the nation’s capital, Port Moresby had been further delayed for two days after the election team failed to complete preparations for polling to take place today. National Capital District (NCD) Election Manager Mr. Kila Ralai said the polling has been further delayed to Monday 11th July because they are still doing the distribution of ballot papers that led to the cancellation of polling which supposed to start at 8am in the morning. Mr. Ralai explained that the completion of the distribution of the election materials is important to ensure every…
The prime minister has come out to say that the arrests of his son in relation to the huge amount of money transported in bag to Hela province on the eve of polling, was only a misunderstanding. Prime Minister (PM James Marape explained that his son was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and that money confiscated was meant for a local construction company and has no ulterior motive behind it. He said his son was with a group that was being given a tour of the PNG LNG facilities when the incident occurred. “They happened to…
Polling for the 2022 National General Elections started today Monday the 04th of July, but already Manus province has announced a delay in its polling schedule. The Acting Provincial Election Manager for Manus Mr. Tony Balema said he received approval from the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission (PNGEC) head office in Port Moresby after requesting for a delay due to issues with logistics and the late arrival of election materials to the provincial capital, Lorengau. He said the delay is for two days meaning that the people of Manus will go to the polls on Wednesday 06th of July. According to Mr.…
It will be one-day polling for the various provinces in the highlands region with security teams moving between provinces to provide security on the respective polling days as per the polling schedule. The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Simon Sinai, said polling for the highlands is scheduled to start on Monday the 04th of July with Hela province to go first. For the Enga province the polling day will be on the 07th of July, Southern Highlands province polling day will be on the 11th of July, Jiwaka and Western Highlands province will be on the 13th of…