2022 National General Elections

This process should be completed earlier in advance of the election and finalised prior to the cut-off upon the issue of the writs.

“Security measures should be put in place to prevent further changes to the roll after the cut-off point, and political parties and candidates should receive copies of the final electoral roll in advance of the polling period,” it stated.

The COG, after the 2017 elections, recommended that the PNGEC consider providing for continuous voter registration, including online registration.

Divisional Commander-NGI, Perou N’Dranou wish to inform the public within the four provinces of West New Britain, East New Britain, New Ireland and Manus to behave responsibly during the elections.

“Election is now becoming violent in certain parts of PNG and as the ACP for the NGI Command, I do not wish that we the NGI similarly follow this path.

“Let us not resort to such because we are known to be peace loving people, who conduct ourselves in an orderly manner,” said N’Dranou.

The Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry described these parts of Lae as “hotspot areas”, saying there is always an incidence of risk but coupled with the election period, incidents have escalated.

The LCCI reported that a school bus was recently intercepted by a gang on Butibam Road, who smashed the windows and attempted entry.

Quick thinking and action by the driver averted any entry, leaving the kids and crew safe but shaken.

“Drive safely, be alert, take care,” said LCCI president, John Byrne.

It was also an opportunity to educate the people about the limited preferential voting system. The forums were organised by the ENB election steering committee, which is driving voter education in the province.
It is assisting the provincial electoral office under the leadership of provincial administrator, Wilson Matava.
The forums were held at the following venues:

Sinai said, “One of the main events that take place prior to conducting election proper in any general elections is the education and awareness program, where we conduct massive awareness to the voters and candidates throughout the country on the electoral process.

“These pre-election activities are an essential part of the election preparations and the Commission through its Information and Communication Awareness Branch ensures that such vital message involving voter education and awareness is communicated to the public.

The election observation will monitor the electoral process to ensure that it complies with the National legislations and international standards for elections.

The COG will arrive in Port Moresby on June 28 and stay until the completion of the electoral process. Secretary General for Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland QC, constituted the 10-member group of observers, which will be led by former President of Nauru, H.E. Baron Waga.

He said the school premises must be free from any political campaigns or rallies because these are public properties and do not belong to any individual group.

Minister Uguro said the candidates and the supporters must respect state institutions and must not engage students in any form of political activities. He told parents to be watchful and keep an eye on their children, and not let them get involved with candidates.

Minister Uguro said students must be in class during the campaign period.

Among these challenges is the fact that Pomio is the largest district that covers over 70 percent of the province.

Since taking office as the District Administrator for Pomio in 2007, Peter Peniat, who is originally from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, says Pomio is a difficult district.

Having served in the other districts of Rabaul and Kokopo, Peniat says Pomio has a lot of challenges, given its rugged terrains.

He says since 1975, the only development by 2007, was logging, which was then followed by oil palm development, years later.

East New Britain Chapter for Transparency International PNG Chairman, Patrick Varagat, issued the reminder during yesterday’s Pomio leg of the voter awareness and candidate forum.

Speaking at the Sinivit LLG of Pomio district, Varagat specifically emphasised on the need for elected national Members of Parliament (MP) to understand their role and not to take over the job of the executive or administrative arm, which lies with the public service machinery.

He said the Constitutional Electoral Reform 2022 provides that a person, who has been convicted of any indictable offences after the insertion of this law, is not eligible to contest these general elections or subsequent elections.

“The law permanently disqualified a candidate for becoming a Member of Parliament. A person convicted of an offence and sentenced to more than 9 months after 2022 is disqualified from contesting.

“The PNG EC should not allow such person to nominate for public office as this makes mockery of and undermines the country’s electoral process.