Sohe

Sohe MP Henry Jons Amuli said these when announcing the arrival of first lot of earthmoving machineries purchased by the Sohe District Development Authority (SDDA) from China to Port Moresby last Friday, June 30, 2023.

Mr Amuli said Sohe District connected four Local Level Governments (LLGs) of Kokoda, Higaturu, Kira and Tamata but two of the LLGs of Kira and Tamata are not connected by roads.

"When elected as MP is 2017, I spent my time walking the entire Sohe District and have seen firsthand the struggles and challenges my people have gone through.

Sohe Returning Officer, Wesley Korapeba, told Loop PNG that the declaration was made yesterday after 3pm.

He said after the 14^th exclusion, Amuli went past the absolute majority, finishing with 7,724 votes, and Gore on 7,513.

Korapeba arrived today in Port Moresby and will present the writ for the Sohe Open Seat to Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato.

The only three incumbent female MPs include Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso, Lae MP Louzaya Kouza and Sohe MP Delilah Gore.

Gore is maintaining her lead in the Sohe electorate.

Sohe Returning Officer Wesley Korapera told Loop PNG that after count 25 which is the final count for the first preferential papers, Gore polled 5,151, followed by an independent candidate Hansley John Amuri with 2,449 votes and People’s Party candidate Paulinias Huhena on third spot with 2,446.

Quality checks are currently underway with eliminations to commence tomorrow.

This was revealed today when Minister Gore presented the 2016 DSIP acquittal report for Sohe to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD).

Minister Gore is the only current sitting MP to have acquitted all DSIP funds from 2013 to last year.

The Minister thanked her District administration and treasury for ensuring that all necessary paper work was available for compilation and presentation.

 “We are proud to be presenting these acquittals because we are going into elections and I want to clean my backyard before I go into elections.

In a media briefing this afternoon (3^rd November), Governor Juffa said that the provincial government was not told of the Prime Minister’s visit and was surprised when they saw his helicopter land on Saturday (31^st October).

Juffa says that they were never informed of the PM’s visit which bypassed normal protocol to notify him as the governor of the province so that common courtesy would have been accorded to the PM.