There are no funding hiccups of the 2017 National Election, says Chief Secretary to Government Isaac Lupari.
In this year’s national budget, the National Government allocated K400 million to fund the country’s election.
In a statement, Lupari said two separate trust accounts have been created – one for PNG Electoral Commission to draw its K279 million and the other for security agencies to draw down their K121 million for election security operations.
Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato and Police Commissioner Gari Baki will look after their individual trust accounts.
"So far, a warrant of K141 million has been issued and a total of K86 million has been released to PNGEC as cash," Lupari, who is also the chairman of the Inter-Department Election Committee, said.
"K43 million has already been committed by PNGEC while K56 million is still sitting in the PNGEC trust account."
The Chief Secretary said for election security operations, K18 million has been drawn down with K8 million already dispersed for mobilisation by the Police, Defence and Correctional Services, while K10 million is sitting in the trust account.
(Loop file pic)