Sensitive polling materials have been airlifted to all provinces in the country a week before the polls.
“All sensitive election materials are now in the provinces and being sorted out for distribution to each electorate, LLG and ward in preparation for polling,” says Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato.
These include ballot papers, candidate posters, polling schedules, CUG mobile phones for polling teams, indelible inks and electoral rolls.
Non-sensitive election materials such as polling kits, voting compartments, seals and stationery were sent via shipping to all provinces earlier.
Sensitive election materials for New Guinea Islands, Momase and Southern Regions were dispatched the previous week while the exercise for the Highlands Region started on Friday and was completed yesterday (Saturday).
“As of yesterday, Saturday 17 June, the last sensitive election materials were dispatched by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) C-130 military aircraft,” Gamato said.
“Yesterday, there were three flights out of Port Moresby from the PNGDF Air Transport Squadron by the ADF C-130 aircraft – early morning flight delivered sensitive election materials for Jiwaka and Chimbu via Mt. Hagen.
“The aircraft then returned before midday to pick up materials for Eastern Highlands and Hela.
“The last delivery yesterday afternoon was to Tari and was expected to have arrived by 2:30pm.
“In total, the ADF moved 45,661 kilograms of sensitive election materials over the last seven days from Port Moresby to provincial centres nationwide.”
The 14 days of nationwide polling will start on June 24.
(File picture)