2017 National Election

Ballot papers kept in ‘undisclosed location’

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato confirmed with Loop PNG that “ballot papers arrived on Tuesday and had been cleared (on Wednesday)”.

Gamato said on Thursday, containers containing the papers were taken to a highly secured location in Port Moresby where they are now heavily guarded by police and military personnel.

He said in the next one-and-a-half months, the ballot papers will be repacked according to enrolment figures and dispatched to each province, two weeks prior to commencement of polling on June 24.

Australia to assist in PNG election

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said in a joint media conference in Port Moresby with his Australia counterpart Malcolm Turnbull.    

“Writs will be issued on April 20, Australia Government will assist in logistics and also participation in the international observation throughout the country,” O’Neill said.

Australia will also provide training to security personnel, and further provide logistical support to Papua New Guinea to host the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member states meeting in 2018.

Unions call for change in policy towards workers concerns

This must be represented fully by the Unions as stakeholders and developing partner to work with the national government for a better PNG in pursuing the Medium Term Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030.

PNG National Party to endorse 54 candidates

"PNG National Party is the only genuine alternative party to form the next government," parliamentary leader Kerenga Kua said.

Kua was speaking at the PNG National Party convention currently held in Port Moresby.

 He said 700 expression of interest was received from intending candidates wanting to contest for the 111 seats in the National Parliament.

Kua said the final 54 candidates were chosen after a comprehensive survey which started last year.

Electoral Commission confident of democratic elections

“During my term as the Electoral Commissioner, the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission has instituted internal reforms, developed strategies, conducted detailed planning and implemented key activities – all in preparation for the 2017 National Elections,” Gamato said. 

“PNGEC has increased its organisational capabilities by applying lessons learnt from the 2012 National Election, 2013 Local Level Government (LLG) elections and the 2015-2016 provincial and open by-elections.

Voters Electoral Roll to be ready before Writs

Electoral Commissioner Patililas Gamato announced today that 94 per cent of the voters’ Electoral Roll is completed.

“At the moment 59 districts had their preliminary rolls printed and dispatched to them for public display and verification.”

“Preliminary rolls for 20 provinces are now with the printers for printing while only four provinces are still doing data entry,” Gamato said.

He explained that from the total of 6,227 wards in the country 5,836 wards have had their preliminary ward rolls completed, and only 391 wards left.       

Northern Command has 2017 elections plan in place

Divisional Commander for Northern Region, Peter Guinness, says the polling will be made up of 500 officers.

Northern Command is made of the following provinces; Morobe, Madang and the Eastern Highlands provinces.

A team from the Police Divisional Headquarters (PDHQ) will be sent over to visit and assist the PPCs and Metsupt to better understand the operation order so that they can be able to prepare their operation orders.

“Once done, an operational plan will be confirmed.”

Weiang optimistic in upcoming elections

Weiang shared this sentiment after attending week long PNG Practice Parliament Session for Women 2017 recently.

 Weiang, a law graduate with a colourful private sector experience will bring with her many skills in business into the world of PNG politics as elections nears this year.

The PNG Practice Parliament Session for Women 2017 was conducted by UNDP, the National Parliament and the Office of Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates.

Free Education policy is a failure, says PNG Party

“PNG Party has the vision and we will do it (free education policy) better than what it is today,” said Party General Secretary Kila Poka.

He made this comment when speaking to media at the National Research Institute on Thursday after presenting the party policies.

The Party is currently in the Opposition, and expected to endorse 60 candidates in the 2017 National Elections, which is a month away.  

“Before doing free education policy we must come up with an infrastructure to accommodate the influx of students, unfortunately that is not there (today),” Poka said.

PNG Party eyes 60 candidates to contest 2017 Elections

PNG Party General Secretary Kila Poka revealed this to the media after presenting the party’s policies at the National Research Institute in Port Moresby today.      

Poka said the party received over 500 expression of interest from aspiring politicians and party officials in the last five months had screened it down to 98 candidates.

“We have finalised of 98 candidates in which we think we can do better to screen down, and we are hoping to run almost 60 candidates.