Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato

The local Bulolo MP told a press conference in Port Moresby that, this week’s announcement of the deferral of a major constitutional event, such as the issue of writs is illegal.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato was quoted in The National newspaper that the dates for the issue of writs may be deferred to May 20 because of legislations before Parliament.   

The date for the 2017 National Elections issue of writs is April 20 and July 24 is the return of writs.

He made this call in a media conference this afternoon after an article of the deferment of Issue of Writs for the 2017 National Elections was published in The National Newspaper on Monday.        

 “The Electoral Commission has become a yoyo and a laughing stock to Papua New Guinea, as well as to the international community,” Polye said.  

But Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato urged them to do what is morally right to avoid abusing public property and funds.  

Section 5 of the Organic Law on Duties and Responsibilities of Leadership (OLDRL) prohibits a leader from using his/her office for personal benefits.

Application of public funds for purposes of soliciting votes is a matter of personal interest and will attract charges under the Organic Law.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says serving LLG members are not barred by law to contest national elections.

He explained that section 30 of the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments allows LLG members to contest or hold other public leadership responsibilities.

“The Organic Law does not prevent the LLG elected members from contesting the 2017 national elections while serving as elected members of an LLG,” Gamato said.

He said in 2012 a total of 253,870 eligible voters were registered on the NCD Roll and PNGEC expects slight increase in the new enrolments as most residents are existing electors who have only changed locations within the city limits.

Gamato urged NCD residents to make sure they receive correct information and messages on the enrolment update exercise from the Electoral Commission as the election management body and no one else.

“It is illegal for people to conduct awareness on election without the authorization of PNG Electoral Commission,” Gamato warned.

In preparation for the 2017 National General Election, the PNG Electoral Commission started its electoral roll update for voters in the nation’s capital on Monday and will run for two weeks.    

“Electoral roll update work has already started in the city and city residents have 14 days to turn up at the selected enrolment locations to ensure their enrolment details are correct and register if their names are not on the roll,” Gamato said.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato said the National Government with the support of Inter-Department Election Committee (IDEC) has established a 2017 election trust account which will facilitate funds coming into PNGEC.

He said in the past, PNGEC used the integrated financial management system (IFMS) to manage funds but what normally happens is that after all government accounts are closed, unused funds are returned to the Consolidated Revenue Funds (CRF).

“With the trust account, PNGEC funds will be held back and used during the shut-down period,” Gamato said.

The national logistics plan is going to be the master plan for the procurement and distribution of election materials across the country during the elections.

“It encompasses the polling schedules, transportation cost, election materials and costs including the procurement of big named items and their distribution to the provinces, districts, LLGs and even down to polling stations at ward level,” Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato said.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato revealed that next year’s election budget increased by 40 percent from the 2012 election budget.

He said of the K400 million in 2017 election budget, K121 million will be for security operations while K297 million will be for election operations.

In the last election the National Government allocated K180 million whereas for 2017 it allocated K297 million, an increase of K117 million.

Gamato outlined the 2017 election budget break-up as follows:

             Logistics – K127.30 million

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato said the National Government with the support of Inter-Department Election Committee (IDEC) has established a 2017 election trust account which will facilitate funds coming into PNGEC.

He said in the past PNGEC used the integrated financial management system (IFMS) to manage funds but what normally happens is that after all government accounts are closed, unused funds are returned to the Consolidated Revenue Funds (CRF).

“With the trust account, PNGEC funds will be held back and used during the shut-down period.”