The Hela Provincial Executive Council is calling on the National Government, especially the Boundaries Commission, to allocate two new additional electorates for Hela.
Hela Governor, Philip Undialu, said in line with the National Government’s review of organic laws on National and Local Level Government elections, Hela is prepared to put their proposal through.
Governor Undialu is urging the National Government to accept their proposal given the fact that Hela is a new province.
He said the road networks, power, and health and education infrastructure remains a challenge for the new province.
Mr Undialu added that the devastation from the recent 7.5m earthquake and multiple aftershocks destroyed everything inherited from the Southern Highlands.
The proposal will be to have Kopiago and Komo separated.
“Comparing with our neighboring provinces; WHP has 4, 300km2, Jiwaka has 4, 800km2, whilst Simbu has 6, 100km2 in landmass.
“All of them have populations below 400, 000.
“Note that Koroba Kopiago alone is bigger than total landmass of WHP and Jiwaka and equal to Simbu.
“Komo Margarima has the same landmass as those provinces. Put together, we are still bigger than Jiwaka and WHP, or one of them with Simbu.
“In terms of resource allocation, for instance DSIP, Koroba Kopiago with 5, 200Km2 is allocated K10m whilst WHP with less than 4, 200km2 is allocated K40m because it has four districts.
“This is a K30m gap between a district and a province. Another example is NCD having only 240km2 but allocated K30m or K10m each to the three electorates.
“This can be seen in many districts and provinces throughout the country and this government must fix it.
“Unless we distribute budgets according to landmass and population, this inequality will remain. This is contrary to our National Goals and Directive Principles.”
Electoral Boundaries is the top priority list for the review which was launched by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
The Commission has identified that the population of some open electorates have increased to the extent that they are more than eligible to be split into two electorates.
This has resulted in people from such electorates technically being under-represented in Parliament.
Chairman of the CLRC Robert Atiyafa said part of the review’s mandate would be to examine issues that might also be inhibiting its work and effectiveness, with a view to recommending a functioning arrangement that can deliver on its responsibilities.