Manus

Manus has only one district, which is Lorengau, and Commissioner Gamato has allowed for them to vote in Lorengau.

This is because transport will be an issue for those from the LLGs of Awa-Wuvulu and Nigoherm, to go back and vote in their LLG.

Manus is the largest maritime province in terms of sea area and most islanders rely on zoom to travel around the province.

Gamato, during an update conference in Port Moresby, said polling started on Saturday and is progressing well.

Yapu said people should be allowed to exercise their democratic rights to cast their votes without undue influence, threat or fear.

He is asking for the continuous support and corporation from the people in ensuring a free, fair and safe election is conducted in the province without any disruption.

He said the campaign period which ends today has been quiet and peaceful so far and wants this to continue into polling and counting.

Manus Election Manager, Sponsa Navi, confirms there will be a total of 105 Election officials and 12 Assistant Returning Officers sent out for each of the 12 LLGs.

10 officials with six security personnel will also make the one day trip to the islands of Western Manus on the HMPNG Tarangau Patrol Boat today.

The remaining teams for the other 10 LLGs will be dispatched to their allocated venues starting tomorrow (Friday).

Awa-Wuvulu Rural LLG has seven polling venues which will see one day polling in each venue from Saturday June 24 to Thursday June 29^th.

Manusians say progress and tangible development are non-existent in the political realm of the province.

Health, education services, infrastructure and roads linking villages on the mainland have been neglected for decades.

Resident Chawi Konabe says they want nothing less than visionary leaders who have the interest of the people at heart, leaders who will effect change and development.

Echoing similar sentiments, family and sexual violence advocate Irene Pokris openly shared the struggles faced by the womenfolk in the province.

Manus Police Provincial Commander, Chief Inspector David Yapu, said two small Australian Air Force aircraft arrived in Manus on Saturday with the ballot papers.

The ballot papers were received by Electoral Commission staff with heavy security escort from the Joint Security Forces at Momote.

The ballot papers are locked up in the storage container at the Police Station and PPC Yapu said tight security will be provided until June 23, where they will be moved to the respective polling venues.

Kenni says that the PNG rubber industry has enormous potential and needs to be revitalized and transformed to become a major cash crop.

Kenni said this in Port Moresby during a meeting with a delegation from Manus Province, comprising landowners, provincial administration officials and investors to discuss rubber development in Manus province, in particular, the Pohowa rubber project.

Among those unaccounted for is a woman.

Manus acting PPC, senior inspector David Yapu, has advised relevant authorities of the incident as well as boat operators travelling between Madang and Manus to keep an eye out for them.

He said 11 people were on board the boat that left Karkar at 9am last Thursday. The 23-footer boat with two 40 horse powered engines encountered strong wind and rough seas, which resulted in its overturn at around 2pm.

Sea level rise is an effect of climate change which is causing coastal impact on the islands.

Mbuke Group of Islands is located in Ward One of Pobuma Local Level Government.

Head of the local NGO Marine Environment Awareness and Response Team, former WWF Marine Officer Selarn Kaluwin, said they’ve started to relocate due to sea level rise and population growth.

The man who is also a village court magistrate from the Bupichupeu - Lelemadih Local Level Government was arrested in Manus on Wednesday.

Acting Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector David Yapu said the victim is the accused’s own granddaughter who is nine years old.

It is alleged she was sexually touched by the 44-year-old man on April 9 while she was sleeping in one of the rooms in the family home.

Police in Manus say the boat left Manus for Wewak nine days ago but has not arrived at the destination.

Acting Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector David Yapu is appealing to boat operators traveling between the waters of Manus, Wewak and Madang to keep an eye out on the boat and report to police of its whereabouts.

He said the buai trade has become a big concern as a number of boats have gone missing.

The national disaster and emergency services with NMSA have been alerted to assist with the whereabouts of the missing boat and four people.