The National Logistics Plan is one initiative the PNG Electoral Commission has taken upon itself.
PNGEC Chief Commissioner, Patilias Gamato said during the launch of the Plan today that PNGEC has already started implementing the logistics plan.
“This is a working plan therefore issues like procurement of ballot papers, big ticket items, polling schedules are all contained in the plan and the plan cannot be read in isolation from the polling schedule,” says Gamato.
He says the polling schedule is another plan in terms of the actual date and the place of polling which also includes the security plans that will soon be launched by our disciplinary forces.
“The plan helps us to coordinate the work between PNGEC and the security in terms of their support to the Electoral Commission.”
Gamato adds that PNGEC alone cannot run the election. It’s incumbent on the Government and the agencies of government to support the PNGEC.
“We will be working with them closely in supporting and mobilising logistics and resources to fund the election.”
The Government has appropriated a 2017 budget of which PNGEC will be working closely to use that budget to fund the Logistics Plan.
“Using this plan, we will then bring in specialist from the land, air and sea transport sectors to come in and sit with our team and map out the transport requirements so that the plan can be implemented upon the execution of the budget.”
Gamato says PNGEC is confident that this year’s elections will be a successful one along with the support from the Chief Secretary and government agencies.