2017 National Elections

Polling was delayed on Tuesday, July 4, because of issues with the electoral roll.

Pre-counting of ballot papers was done on Tuesday and Wednesday before polling can commence.

Provincial election manager, Philip Telape, told Loop PNG that polling materials and officials moved into the districts today to prepare for polling.

WHP consists of four districts: Dei, Mul-Baiyer, Hagen and Tambul-Nebilyer, with 305 wards and 432 polling teams.

On the other hand, counting for North West Open is expected to commence tomorrow.

This is according to the Election Manager Alwyn Jimmy.

The message was relayed to a huge crowd, including counting officials, in front of Rita Flynn complex today by Superintendent Operations, Fred Tundu.

Tundu addressed all queries and advised counting officials to be at the venue at the given time.

They will be issued vests on shift and allowed into the venue to take their positions.

He said this today during a gathering of supporters at the Jack Pidik Park at Five-Mile today.

Following two deferrals of counting for the NCD Regional and three Open seats, Parkop gathered his supporters in public to air his frustrations.

He said a simple process for counting has taken them five years to prepare for. Many other excuses were lame and stupid, and an insult to their intelligence.

A planned peaceful march by Parkop’s supporters to the Electoral Commission has been put aside.

Provincial

Erik Pps appeared at the Waigani Committal Court today following his arrest on June 30 at the Five-Mile Ridge polling booths in NCD.

Police apprehended the man from Tsak Valley after scrutineers caught him around 2pm on Friday.

He admitted to voting three times when caught.

He was arrested and charged under section 100 of the Criminal Code, for voting more than he was entitled to.

A large crowd comprising presiding and assistant presiding officers have fronted up at the Electoral Commission’s Boroko Office to make their demand.

Most of the officials are those that conducted polling in Moresby North-West and Moresby North-East.

They claim they are yet to be paid their risk allowances as well as camping allowances.

While polling allowances were paid, they claim some received full amounts while others had to share.

The officials want payments to be made immediately before counting begins.

Counting officials, who turned up as early as 8am, are still waiting to be given access into the counting venue at the Rita Flynn Sporting complex.

Only a handful of Electoral officers are present while heavily armed police personnel man the entrance and parameter of the venue.

Ballot boxes remain locked up at the site.

More updates to follow.

Provincial police commander, Joseph Tabali, told Loop PNG that the local was caught bribing residents to vote for his candidate.

“The culprit was escorted to the mainland Kokopo Police Station on Sunday with ballot boxes,” says the PPC.

“This was a first-of-its-kind incident for the province.”

Apart from the arrest, no major happenings have been reported.

Meanwhile, Tabali says polling ended on Saturday (July 1) for the Gazelle and Rabaul electorates, while Kokopo and Pomio on Monday.

Returning Officer Cherobin Vaiang is hopeful to get counting underway by this Sunday, at the Angoram Community Centre.

Over in Wewak, reports from yesterday put polling team 74 in the Boiken-Dagua LLG, on Yuo Island.

From Yuo, Team 74 will move to Karasau Island, and then onto mainland Boikin, before it proceeds into town for the training of counting officials.

Vanimo-Green River Returning Officer, Anthony Makes, said transportation of polling materials to the voting venues and extraction of the team will be done without police assistance.

Makes says he is unsure as to why they are not providing security to his polling team.

Loop PNG was unable to get comments from the Provincial Police Commander.

Meanwhile, Sandaun Election Manager, Martin Anskar, expects polling in the 99 venues in the province to be completed today (Wednesday).

The 2017 National Election polling will end this Saturday.