2022 National General Elections

On May 31, 2022, the Supreme Court in its interpretation of Section 103 (3) (e) of the Constitution, settled the legal position that a person cannot contest the National General Elections and be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he/she is convicted of an indictable offence that carries a sentence of imprisonment for more than 9 months, effective from June 25 2002.

The only two exceptions to this interpretation are unless the conviction and sentence has been quashed by the Supreme Court or the convicted person has been pardoned under section 151 of the Constitution.

Deputy Pandemic Controller Dr Daoni Esorom says that the country is still in the pandemic and people still have to comply with the COVID-19 protocols to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. This includes getting vaccinated.

“We are working on the country recovery strategies that will be put in place post-election. It is important to note that all our four surges have been due to some national gathering, the election is a super spreader event, and we expect a surge during or after the election,” Dr. Daoni said.

Assistant Commissioner Operations Samson Kua corrected this saying  police have in fact confiscated one blue field uniform, three police long pants with a boot as well as one set of PNG Defence Force camouflage uniform, one shirt and one short trouser. 

He said these items are now in police custody and investigations are being conducted into their origins.

In a post on Facebook page “PNG Political Limelights”, the author claimed that a flight chartered by a regional candidate for the Hela Province contained boxes of police and PNG Defence Force uniforms.

PPC Rubiang addressed his police officers on Thursday 16, June 2022. He told the police officers to work ethically despite challenges the police force has, which includes logistics. He told the officers on parade and the commanders of each areas that a roll check will be done to make sure that all police officers are working during the election operation.

The PPC told the officers that each member must ensure the delivery of a successful election for Madang Province.

He said it was the responsibility of every citizen to ensure a free and safe election, including the security forces.

“We’ve always maintained going into election that we ensure a free, fair and safe election and it is the responsibility of every single Papua New Guinean,” he said.

Commissioner Manning added that police and other security forces do not run the election but are tasked to safeguard the electoral process.

“The deaths are unfortunate but they are very much an indication of how people respond during this campaign period.

Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai was on site at the Jacksons Airport in Port Moresby to witness the loading of the ballot papers onto the Australian Defence Force’s C27 Spartan aircraft for delivery to Western Province.

Over the course of the week commencing on Monday June 20, twelve million ballot papers will be distributed to all provinces in PNG, including all other remaining election materials.

The equipment arrived in Port Moresby on Friday on a Royal Australian Airforce C17 Globemaster, inbound from the United States.

Jon Philp, Australian High Commissioner to PNG, and Australian Federal Police Commander, Jamie Strauss formally signed the equipment to RPNGC Police Commissioner, David Manning.

Police Commissioner, David Manning said the vests and helmets would ensure the security forces are able to maintain their operations effectively throughout the election period.

He said the appropriate vests or protection gears added an increased level of confidence to the members of the security forces.

Commissioner Manning made this remarks during the signing of the gifting agreement between the Australian Government and the Royal PNG Constabulary yesterday in Port Moresby.

He said nearly 6000 polling teams will be deployed throughout the country.

In releasing the final polling schedule report on Thursday 16 June, Commissioner Sinai said polling will commence on 4 July 2022 and will be conducted in 6396 wards covering 346 Local Level Government council areas across the country.

The Commissioner said around 47,704 temporary election workers (TEWs) will be engaged to work with the 5,963 polling teams to conduct polling throughout the country.

Speaking during the FM100 Talkback Show on Wednesday, June 15, Pomelau said it is everyone’s effort to ensure the NGE 2022 is violence-free.

“Election is not just conducted by the Electoral Commissioner and security forces, rather it is conducted by candidates and their supporters and all eligible voters in the country, we are all stakeholders in this process,” said Pomaleu.

“What we do and how we engage ourselves in this process determines the full outcome of the election.