2017 National Elections

​Enga yet to receive all ballot boxes

Enga election manager, Anton Iamau, confirmed that the province has so far received only one container containing 316 ballot boxes out of a total of 1,156 boxes.

Iamau told Loop PNG that he is expecting two containers containing 840 ballot boxes to arrive in the province by June 9.

Once all boxes arrive, they will be labeled ‘Open’ and ‘Regional’ separately before they are dispersed to polling venues in the districts, accompanied by the polling teams.

Late MP’s casket to lie in state

Viewing of the body at 10am will be open to Members of Parliament, Departmental Heads and Members of the diplomatic corp.      

At 11am, the public funeral service to celebrate the life of the first term MP, from East Sepik Province, will be held at the Reverend Sione Kami Memorial Church.

According to the official program released by the Office of the National Parliament Speaker, the casket will be flown to Wewak on Friday, concluding the State organised funeral.   

NCD, Central to launch election operations

The operations will be launched by NCD/ Central Commander, Sylvester Kalaut.

NCD Metropolitan Superintendent, Ben Turi, says apart from the one or two major incidents the previous weekend in the nation’s capital, the election operations in the city have been running smoothly so far.

Turi says with less than two weeks before the city goes to the polls, the operations will continue into the declaration of seats and after.

Former Deputy PM leads Country Party

Party president Nelson Duwabane said, the Country Party has endorsed 40 candidates under the leadership of Chris Haiveta, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance.

The former Gulf Governor is contesting for the Gulf Provincial seat, held by People’s National Congress (PNC) strongman, Havila Kavo.  

Duwabane said the party policy is to promote and invest heavily in the primary sector.

​Tkatchenko issues challenge to rival candidates

Speaking at one of his rallies at the Kaugere Basketball Courts on Saturday, Tkatchenko said: "There are candidates going around telling our people about a road that will run through our coastal communities, Wanigela Village, Vanagi and Joyce Bay. There is no such road, and this is the first that I am hearing of such a road.

"Even Governor Parkop does not know of such a road.”

The MP said there is no such plan to relocate anybody in these villages to make way for such a road.

"You cannot want to be a leader to our people, and stand for lies. That is not leadership.

​Carl Okuk urged to emulate late father

In an election campaign held at Works compound, Four-Mile, during the weekend, Kini Karawa, 67, from Gavoune village in the Abau district of Central Province, advised Carl to follow the trademarks of his father, the late Sir Iambakey Okuk.

“Your father was a true warrior. He was always fighting for the people and has brought many developments into this country,” Karawa said.

Karawa, now retired, had been working with the Forestry Department for 36 years.

​Court declares candidate bankrupt

Bari Palma, a candidate for the Kerowagi Open Seat, was declared insolvent (bankrupt) by the National Court on June 1, 2017.

This decision was based on Palma failing to pay the taxed costs of an unsuccessful election petition he had filed previously against the sitting MP, Camillus Dangima Bongoro.

According to court documents, Palma owes Bongoro and the Electoral Commission (defendants) K275,119. 06.

​Pala: More experienced and wiser

Speaking at his rally yesterday at Galomarupu village, Pala appealed to the crowd of over 1000 to bring him back for a third term.

“I have a much stronger network than before. I learnt a lot of things in my last two terms. I will be a better leader, more experienced, more wiser and powerful leader.”

Speaking on service delivery, Pala said milestones included Rigo having the best district hospital in the Central Province.

“As a leader, you need to attend to immediate things as well as the long term things.

​Councilors’ actions condemned

Provincial commander Laimo Asi said they have identified certain leaders who have been rejecting candidates, who are not from their village, from conducting campaigns in their areas.

“This attitude is bad and not healthy for the community. How could a so-called leader do such bias practice in your community? We all come from the same district.”

The provincial police commander says such practices are the beginning of bad leadership and corrupt attitude.

​Border security operations to be launched

The launch of this operation is to assist the Electoral Commission with the elections that will be conducted in the three border provinces; East Sepik, West Sepik and Western Province.

More than 300 personnel from the Royal PNG Constabulary, Correctional Services and PNGDF will be engaged and tasked in a joint force to carry out security operations along the borders of PNG.

The Commissioner for Police, Gari Baki, along with his contingent, is expected to be travelling into the province to launch the joint border operation launch.