New Ireland Police is ready to secure election materials including ballot boxes and ballot papers that arrived in Kavieng yesterday (Tuesday 21st of June).
A total 52 ballot boxes, 3 electoral roll boxes plus other accessories for the National General Election 2022 were dispatched by C130 of the Australian Defence Force.
New Ireland PPC, Chief Inspector Felix Nebanat confirmed that security details for the materials begun with the escort from the Kavieng Airport and will continue at the station now that the materials are stored at the Kavieng Police Station.
We have already organized our men into teams with personals who will be manning the location starting right away,” Nebanat said.
He highlighted that additional manpower from Tomaringa are on the ground to compliment the local police with the securing of the container until polling time when the seals are opened to access the election materials.
New Ireland Election Manager, Mr. Benjamin Kliawi revealed that the materials are kept under police protection until before polling begins, where they will be distributed to the polling teams to go into their respective polling areas.
Mr. Kliawi also revealed that a training for the gazette Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) will be conducted on Thursday and Friday in preparation for polling on the 4th of July.
He also made a call to the Provincial Administrator and the District Administrators to give him ten public servants to conduct scrutiny for the 10 polling stations for the Regional Seat.
The counting scrutineers for the Kavieng and Namatanai Open electorates are already confirmed,” said Mr. Kliawi.