2017 PNG National Election

VIDEO: Simbu security update

Provincial Police Commander Chief Inspector David Seine Junior says Simbu police are set. 

They are awaiting the major election operation launch which will be held in Mt Hagen on Friday.

Voting population has matured: PM

He made this statement due to the quiet 2017 National Election campaign period.

The Prime Minister said the cost associated with campaigning for 8 weeks is one of the factors.  

O’Neill was speaking on the FM100 talkback show this morning in Port Moresby. 

Candidates have three more weeks to convince voters before the 14 days of nationwide polling start on 24 June. 

The National Government, in the last term of Parliament, proposed to the PNG Electoral Commission for 4 weeks of campaign period but the PNG Electoral Commissioner stood firm with the 8 weeks.

Over 180 police officers in rehearsal

 

The rehearsal was at the Queen Elizabeth park in Mt Hagen today.

This is only part of the 2000 personnel expected to be deployed to the rest of the Highlands region.

Security is of high priority when it comes to elections in the Highlands region as more challenges are expected to rise.

The Chief Secretary to the government, Isaac Lupari, is expected to arrive in the province tomorrow to launch the security operations together with Police Commissioner, Gari Baki.

Police preparing for Highlands security launch

Police Commissioner Gari Baki is currently in the province to observe preparations of each of the highlands provinces leading into the launch.

More than 300 officers from the Highlands region are expected to attend the election security launch. This includes all Provincial Police Commanders of the region and their Police Station Commanders as well.

Baki said a lot of manpower will be based in the Highlands region considering that the region poses a lot more challenges than other main centres in the country.

VIDEO: Goroka people call for better leaders

The people from Asaroka, Kama, Notofana, and other surrounding villages spoke with TVWAN News recently stating that vibrant and simple leadership is needed in the district more than ever.

Baki confident about 2017 elections

 

Police Commissioner, Gari Baki says the 2017 elections have been very quiet but says he is pleased with the progress of the police elections operations so far.

He said unlike running the operations in previous elections in the country, 2017 is a complete change.

“I do not know if it is a change for the better, but for me it shows that there is maturity in the mindset of Papua New Guineans and that’s the way we should be,” says Baki.

Funds issue stalls Police election deployment

Police Commissioner Gari Baki said there was delay due to slow release of funds in the past few weeks.

“K8 million of the K121 million needed to run the operations have been released from Treasury.”

Baki said the other K21 million is expected to be released most likely today or tomorrow.

He added that the outstanding K21 million is still very much needed to carry out the full cost of deployment.

“The K8 million has been used to set up the provincial operating posts already.”

Police personnel urged to be neutral during Elections

The directive is to control the misuse of delegated duties, to minimise the abuse of police powers and corrupt practices during the polling and counting periods.

Andrews said due to the importance of casting of votes and counting of ballot papers he has directed that tight security and safety will be maintained by Police, Defence and CS personnel in all polling and counting locations throughout the country.

More than 100 observers to witness 2017 Election

International observers will arrive and depart at different times from May through to July. The sponsors of international observer teams - such as The Commonwealth, Australian National University and various diplomatic missions in Port Moresby- will be arranging their on logistics to cover the event.

A media statement issued by the United Nations Development programme (UNDP) on Sunday says more than 12 groups will be taking part in the 2017 National Elections Observer Mission.

Police commander commends Central community

Central police Commander Laimo Asi says there have been no major election-related issues in the past month.

Operations with personnel are going well with Asi sighting that the highways will be a major concern given the influx of vehicles conveying in from the city.

He further commended his officers and the community for the joint effort in making the process peaceful and smooth since the start of the pre-election operations.

Asi says all operational orders have been sighted and given out to his respective field commanders.