Justin Tkatchenko

Numbering in the hundreds, supporters are braving the heat, patiently waiting for the declaration.

They arrived as early as 9am in truckloads and PMVs displaying green shirts and flags as well as decorated vehicles.

Quality checks are currently being held at the counting venue.

The declaration is expected by 3pm today.

By 6am today, polling teams camping at Kila Kila Secondary School headed out to their respective venues.

Loop PNG visited polling venues at Sabama and Downtown Port Moresby, noting a good turnout in both areas.

At Sabama, showers threatened to stop polling as there weren't proper tents to house polling booths as well as officials and security.

In downtown, polling began smoothly.

Incumbent Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko also cast his vote at the polling venue at the Port Moresby Police Station.

More updates to come....

When addressing the media today, Tkatchenko said the last thing we want is a failed election.

He said this following reports of ballot papers floating around, as published on social media.

“We need to get to the bottom of it immediately,” Tkatchenko said.

“We cannot allow candidates doing these illegal practices when we have a democratic system that is being run for the benefit of our people.

“People must vote freely without being cheated by these actions.

The current Moresby South MP said rival candidates from a particular province are attacking him personally, and also spreading lies when campaigning in the electorate.

Tkatchenko challenged rival candidates to campaign on their policies and let the people select their candidate preferences.    

He said he has never experienced these derogatory remarks against him in the previous two elections he contested.      

Meanwhile, Tkatchenko clarified that he has not had police escort during his campaign rallies in the last seven weeks.    

Jacob Marcos, a journalist with the Department of Health, was forced to hand over his belongings at Pari Village in the National Capital District.

Marcos, a resident at the Doru area in Pari, was capturing the rally of incumbent MP for Moresby South, Justin Tkatchenko, when he was approached by a group.

“The group of men, including a policeman (full name withheld) demanded explanation of why I was recording the event,” Marcos said.

Winston Parascos is urging the Minister for Sports and National Events, Justin Tkatchenko, to come out publicly and truthfully inform the taxpaying public on why the incomplete Sir Hubert Murray stadium in Port Moresby has been abandoned.

He said the incomplete controversial stadium has become an eyesore for city residents and visitors.

“Justin Tkatchenko is not only duty bound, but has moral obligations to inform the taxpaying public why the condition of the structures are left to deteriorate,” he stressed.

Minister for Sports, National Events and APEC, Justin Tkatcnehnko visited the APEC Haus construction site on Friday and announced the start of piling work.

Piling involves the drilling and simultaneous placement of concrete to ensure stability.

CPB Contractors Project Engineer, Denmark Gimisive, says the piling work is an additional foundation to stabilize the area for the construction work to begin.

Speaking at one of his rallies at the Kaugere Basketball Courts on Saturday, Tkatchenko said: "There are candidates going around telling our people about a road that will run through our coastal communities, Wanigela Village, Vanagi and Joyce Bay. There is no such road, and this is the first that I am hearing of such a road.

"Even Governor Parkop does not know of such a road.”

The MP said there is no such plan to relocate anybody in these villages to make way for such a road.

"You cannot want to be a leader to our people, and stand for lies. That is not leadership.

Tkatchenko made this statement today after it was reported in the media that Tonga is currently processing its withdrawal documents to be submitted to the 2019 Pacific Games Council.

 “Our commitment and assessment that we did for Tonga to host the Pacific Games has basically stalled and will not continue. We had not paid them any funding whatsoever.

“We had offered them assistance through our own personal staff to go to Tonga and train their staff in that regard.

More than a thousand supporters wearing green t-shirt with Tkatchenko’s face printed on it turned up at the Sir Hubert Murray Oval to show support for Tkatchenko as their nominee for the Moresby South electorate.

Speaking to his supporters and campaigners, Tkatchenko thanked the people of Moresby South for their outstanding support in the last five years as their MP.

He said without the help of his team to deliver productive services and infrastructure, Moresby South wouldn’t have come this far.