Enga

This followed a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the area on Monday, 26 February.

BNL executive managing director, Richmond Fenn, said the earthquake epicentre was located approximately 90km South West of the Porgera mine, close to the mine’s power generation plant at Hides.

“While the mine itself appears to have been unaffected by the quake, our primary power generating facility located some distance away in Hides has sustained damage, and is now offline,” Fenn said.

He told Loop PNG that he is yet to confirm whether the public servants are back at work or not yet.

However, Provincial Administrator Dr Samson Amean confirmed that public servants have resumed work since yesterday.

He told Loop PNG via text message that only a few yet to turn up at work while most have already resumed their duties.

He said the Provincial Management Team had their meeting in the province on Monday and the Provincial Treasury is in operational as well.

“Everything should be operational by the end of the week.”

Shops, banks and PMV bus services in Wabag town and other districts were open to the public and are operating as normal, while counting resumed on Tuesday under tight police and defence security personnel at Wabag Primary School.

Western End police command, Chief Superintendent Mark Yengen, says more reinforcement will be sent in from Mt Hagen to beef up security operations to ensure peaceful declarations of the seats.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato confirmed today that polling in some LLGs in these provinces have been extended.

In Madang, polling in Arabaka Rural LLG and Josephstaal Rural LLG in the Middle Ramu District and Bundi LLG in the Usino Bundi District have requested for an extension.

For Enga, counting has started at most electorates while some LLGs have requested for polling extension.

In Gulf, polling in the remote parts of Kikori District has been extended while polling in Kerema District is complete and counting will commence on Thursday.

Polling was scheduled to take place today however, due to issues with the electoral roll, it has been postponed.

Provincial election manager, Anton Iamau, said sorting and pre-counting of ballot papers took place in Wabag Town due to electoral roll issues.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato confirmed that Western Highlands Province (WHP) also has the same issue with the electoral roll and will commence polling on Thursday.

Polling officials spent the day also sorting and pre-counting.

Electoral Commissioner, Patilias Gamato, says polling will go ahead after the Provincial Election Manager advised  those who raised issues that the 2017 final roll was not too different to the former.

Jiwaka Province also goes to the polls on Tuesday.

Initiall y some polling venues wanted to be changed, however, Gamato said according the organic law where a polling place is gazzetted it cannot be changed or abolishmed before the issue of writs or before the writs are returned.

Nathan Piari, commonly referred to as Mr West, has called on the people, especially in the Highlands, to abide by law and conduct themselves peacefully during polling.

Piari, who formally contested the Enga Regional seat in the 2012 national election and now running for his Laigaip/Porgera constituency under the ruling People's National Congress Party said the campaign period has been peaceful so far and the same should be maintained during polling.

Martin Kepon Ratu's family was caught off guard at 5 this morning when some aggrieved Goilala people in the community attacked them in what was believed to be a retaliation.

According to police personnel on ground, the incident started when the body of a young man from Goilala was discovered in the early hours of this morning.

However, Ratu says his family has fallen victim to baseless assumptions.

"We were still asleep when the fight started. We had no idea they were going to attack because we did not know what started the fight,” the businessman stated.

His journey began a long way from Port Moresby, in his home province in the highlands region.

A young Engan, with a passion for writing and music, he began composing songs at age 12. His style of music was influenced by locals like Gedix Atege and international bands like Michael Learns to Rock and the Backstreet boys.

He moved to the big city – Port Moresby, still holding on to the dream that one day he will be a singer.

By 2006, he had at least three singles out but distributed only among the small group of family and friends.

He said O’Neill has his support and Enga MPs and will all do what they can to communicate with their people and ensure they are aware of the benefits that have been delivered.

“I am committed to giving PNC a chance to complete their policy agenda through a second term in Government.
“I am obliged to see that the O’Neill-led Government returns for another term of Parliament, to continue the massive range of infrastructure projects taking place in Enga and around the country, and to ensure political stability,” Sir Peter said.