2017 National Election

PNGDF Commander, Gilbert Toropo said this during the 66^th Battalion Anniversary Parade at Taurama Barracks recently.

Commander Toropo says he has seen the great efforts put in by the men and women towards this profession today.

He says as PNG is heading into preparing for this year’s national elections, PNGDF has a role to play as part of one of its core tasks to support the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary in ensuring a safe and peaceful environment for the citizens of PNG.

This is from an independent observation from an ex-combatant Ben Kamda, the former Rebel operations planner during the Crisis.

“Right now the election fever is so high and Bougainvilleans will be very careful in choosing candidates,” Kamda said.

“They will mostly be choosing candidates that are serious about Bougainville’s cause and the region’s political future.

The Melanesian Alliance Party (MAP) General Secretary Nick Klapat, revealed to media today at the National Research Institute’s (NRI) discussion forum for political parties and their policies.

 Yopyyopy originally entered Parliament in 2012 under the Social Democratic Party led by NCD Governor, Powes Parkop.

 He then join the United Resources Party (URP) led by Member for Hagen, William Duma.

 Klapat said Yopyyopy had recently joined them and will led a yet to be confirmed number of candidates into the elections.

The issue of Writs for the 2017 National Elections will be issued on April 20.

The forum will be held twice a week this month, and will be open to the general public.

An official announcement will be made by the country’s think tank today.

A total of 19 political parties have representation in the current Parliament, and with the elections less than 2 months away, many deregistered and new parties have registered with the Political Parties and Candidates Commission.

That is the undertaking from THE Party Parliamentary and Opposition Leader, Don Polye.

Polye said the party is looking for candidates with such qualities as these, are qualities lacking in the current government.

Also parties in the Opposition will not endorse candidates to contest seats occupied by Members in Opposition benches.

Polye said, all coalition partners in the Opposition have an understanding not to oppose each other especially in certain seats now occupied by members of political parties now in the Opposition.

The Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission this week approved the applications of seven new political parties.

Gelu said the timing of registration of these new parties poses a challenge for them.

The parties now have only a month to tell the people about themselves including their policies.

They have to compete with well-established political parties such as People’s National Congress (PNC), National Alliance (NA), Pangu, National Party, United Party and PNG Party.

Traffic police take over probe into death of Laufa

http://www.looppng.com/png-news/traffic-police-take-over-probe-death-laufa-52601

Investigations into the death of the late Ruby Laufa have progressed with Traffic police now taking over the investigations.

44 Political Parties confirmed for 2017 National Elections

Registrar of Political Parties Dr Alphonse Gelu said that the Registry will continue the processes of registering political parties but it will not allow them to contest in this election.

He explained that it takes about two months to register a political party before the issue of writs and therefore a political party must be registered two months before the issue of writs.

“It takes a process of two months therefore if anyone wants to register a political party now to take part in this elections, it will not be possible.

Opposition Leader Don Polye said the Opposition was ready to challenge the nomination fee increase in the Supreme Court.

He said the Constitutional Amendment Bill had gone through only the first reading with 75-14 votes in its favour in the last Parliament session.

The Opposition Leader is calling on the people to mount pressure on their parliamentarians to shift their plan to vote against it, citing the Bill is draconian, and a direct abuse of human rights.

Polye urged Parliamentarians to use their moral conscience to vote against it.

“Our people would eager to see him continue to discharge his duties independently without fear or favour like this until the Return of Writs on July 24.

“Our alternate government will continue working side by side with the Electoral Commission and other stakeholders to see a fair, free and democratic election delivered this year,” Polye said.

Polye has assured the people that their alternate government would continue to scrutinize the electoral processes to avoid electoral fraud.