The PNG Electoral Commission needs K192 million to adequately prepare for the 2017 National Election, says Commissioner Patilias Gamato.
But the National Government has only allocated K10 million for the preparation and a request has already been given to the head of the National Executive Council, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
“Last year in November I did a submission to the NEC, now it’s before NEC for deliberation I cannot comment on that,” Gamato told Loop PNG.
PNGEC has 12 months to update the country’s Common Roll, which is one of the important tasks in the preparation phase of the election.
The preparation funding will cover allowances for security and election officials, logistics and other activities needed in carrying out this exercise throughout the country to have Electoral Rolls updated before the 2017 General Elections.
“Once we do preparation, than we will make the actual costs of the election in 2017,” Gamato said.