Electoral Boundaries Commission to be announced

The Electoral Boundaries Commission will be announced before June this year.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said this in parliament today.

He said the Electoral Boundaries Commission will look at dividing electorates that have big land masses, making it difficult for some District Development Authorities (DDAs) to cover.

The Prime Minister made the announcement when asked by Western Governor, Taboi Awi Yoto.

Governor Yoto said his province is the largest in the country and will need to be considered by the Commission for new boundaries.

“When will the Prime Minister announce the Electoral Boundaries Team and when he announces it, does he have any thoughts on dividing electorates in my province?”

The PM said one of the reasons for the Electoral Boundaries Commission was the increase in the population size. He said a previous report had been rejected.

“The Electoral Boundaries Commission, not in the last term, but the term before, did submit a report. But the parliament rejected that report because it was too close to the elections.

“I will certainly announce the new boundaries commission before June,” stated the PM.

“The electoral commissioner is now putting names together and that announcement will be made and the review of boundaries will take place.”

The Prime Minister did not say whether Western Province was going to be considered, but he highlighted that electorates with big land masses and populations will be thought of.

“Certainly electorates such as Kandrian-Gloucester and Talasea around the country need to be split because there is population of more than 150,000 in those electorates.

“Certainly any member and district administrator is unable to look after that population size,” said O’Neill.

(Western Governor Taboi Awi Yoto in Parliament today)

Author: 
Cedric Patjole