2017 National Elections

Although the scheduled start time was 9am, officials were called in at around 10:20am.

Officials stood in line while Electoral Commission officers called them in, one by one, for the NCD regional count.

Also at the venue will be counting for Moresby North-West.

While officials were let in, a few among the group began calling out for allowances.

Officials from other counting venues have threatened to boycott counting until allowances are paid.

Three other teams in the Kerema Open electorate have completed polling, according to the Electoral Commissioner.

Commissioner Patilias Gamato said polling is progressing well in East Kerema as well as Kaintiba.

Polling in all Kerema Urban LLGs have been completed while voting in Kotidanga and Lakikamu LLGs are progressing well and is expected to be completed by this Friday, July 7.

In the Kikori Open electorate, polling in the Baimuru LLG progressed into its second day on Tuesday.

All teams have completed their polling on Monday, July 3, and the last team from Gasmatta was airlifted back to Kimbe on Tuesday.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato confirmed that all counting venue hire will be paid by the WNB provincial administration.

In East New Britain, all teams completed their polling and have returned to Kokopo.

Gamato said counting is scheduled to start on Monday, July 10, depending on the payment of counting venue hire by the PNG Electoral Commission.

Across to Manus and New Ireland, counting is also scheduled for July 10.

Polling was scheduled to take place today however, due to issues with the electoral roll, it has been postponed.

Provincial election manager, Anton Iamau, said sorting and pre-counting of ballot papers took place in Wabag Town due to electoral roll issues.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato confirmed that Western Highlands Province (WHP) also has the same issue with the electoral roll and will commence polling on Thursday.

Polling officials spent the day also sorting and pre-counting.

Commander Ben Turi claims his predecessor has a personal grudge against him, hence his call for Turi to be sidelined.

This follows allegations made by Bawa and other candidates, including Steven Kilage, who alleged that Turi was aware of an assault on them and their supporters but did nothing about it.

However, Turi said these allegations are just hearsay – what he did is only be in command of law enforcers who, by all means, will carry out and continue enforcing the law.

Manus Election Manager Sponsa Navi told Loop PNG this morning that polling for all other LLGs have been completed.

Polling in the remaining ward in Pobuma LLG is currently in progress today while Balopa LLG completd polling yesterday. These two LLGs are the last for polling.

Ballot papers of other LLGs are now being transported back to Lorengau.

His team conducted polling at Whal Island this morning and will proceed to Mbuke Island afterwards.

Provincial election manager Anton Iamau confirmed that polling officials are now doing pre-counting of ballot papers in Wabag Town.

Iamau said earlier that all 1,156 ballot boxes arrived in the province last week.

He said there are enough security personnel of both police and defence force on ground to provide security during polling. 

Enga consists of five electorates, 411 polling teams, 364 Wards and 18 LLGs.

After the pre-counting is done, the ballot boxes will be distributed to the five electorates.

His statement follows allegations of foul play by four of the top candidates for the NCD regional seat, including Jamie Maxtone Graham, Steven Kilage and former NCD Metropolitan Superintendent Andy Bawa.

The candidates alleged that during an incident on Sunday night, where scrutineers and electoral officers were assaulted and chased from the Rita Flynn Sports Complex, police illegally moved a number of ballot boxes.

However, Commander Ben Turi says the only actions taken at that time at the courts of Rita Flynn were to bring order to the area.

Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato, announced yesterday that counting at all appointed venues are expected to begin.

He said following polling on Friday, June 30^th, all ballot boxes were sent to Rita Flynn Sporting complex and then later distributed to counting venues.

The counting venues include the Sir John Guise Stadium (Moresby North-East), Kila Kila Secondary School (Moresby South), while the Rita Flynn Complex will house the Moresby North-West and NCD Regional Counting.

“Despite a few law and order problems encountered where drunken youths travel around, threatening voters to vote for certain candidates, everything is quiet now,” says a member of the Special Services Division (SSD).

"Vanimo is quiet, polling is going well."

The 13-man team landed in the Sandaun capital last Tuesday morning.

“We SSD personnel are also assisting our counterparts from PNG Defence Force to patrol our international border,” Loop PNG was told.