PNG Electoral Commission

Commissioner Patilias Gamato said he had written to the SOE Controller David Manning to exempt both districts from the lock-down, so they can conduct the by-elections.

However, Manning responded and asked the PNGEC to hold back on the by-elections, but Gamato said the decision to hold them, rests on him as the electoral Commissioner.

“This is no disrespect and disobedience to the laws and regulations of the SoE,” Gamato said.

The appeal was made by the Electoral Commissioner's Delegate John Kalamoroh.

Kalamoroh said PNGEC was ready to conduct the Supplementary LLG elections but it does not have the necessary funds.

On November 5^th, the PNG Electoral Commission wrote to Treasury Secretary Dairi Vele requesting for a funding of K4.7 million.

“The PNGEC is ready to conduct Supplementary LLG elections for the 96 failed wards in 10 provinces but we don't have the necessary funds,” stated Kalamoroh.

The Waigani National Court last week ordered a recount after upholding the election petition filed by runner-up and former MP Don Polye on grounds of errors and omissions by the Electoral Commission.

Justice Colin Makail in his decision upheld two of the six grounds that went to trial, and they were mostly to do with errors and omissions by the Electoral Commission:

Early this year, the national government made the decision and asked the Electoral Commission to administer the 2019 LLG elections in partnership with provincial administrations to pool resources, save money and promote provincial ownership of the process.

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says though it is an exciting potential partnership, the dilemma is that the Commission has yet to conclude agreements with all the 20 different provincial administrations.

Commissioner’s delegate Simon Sinai says this was due to financial commitments PNGEC had already made to service providers in Lae to facilitate the recount there.

“The Electoral Commission has already committed about half-a-million kina to service providers in Lae and it’s impossible to recoup the funds and divert them for a new recount venue.”

Sinai said Lae was selected as a neutral recount venue to avoid the escalating and ongoing law and order problems experienced in Simbu straight after the National Court decision ordering a recount on 27 November, 2018.

Deputy Electoral Commissioner, John Kalamoro, revealed this during the two day seminar on the review of the Organic Law on National and Local Level Government Elections and related laws.

This is one of the loopholes currently in the Organic Law which needs to be addressed by parliament.

Kalamora said while the Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) can make recommendations on the electorates to cater for any changes it must be part of a re-distribution review.

This was the process undertaken by the EBC and Parliament for the creation for Hela and Jiwaka.

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister, William Samb, said this when officially launching The PNGEC Corporate Plan 2018 – 2022 today.

The five-year Corporate Plan aims to enhance the capacity of the PNG Electoral Commission to deliver high quality electoral services to the people.

Minister Samb commended the EC on the launch saying if fully implemented will address many issues witnessed during National General Elections.

“Funds for allowances are parked in the bank, the responsibility now is for the returning officer to provide us with the names and account numbers,” Gamato said.

“Sometimes, on the eleventh hour, they change people’s names and bring in new people and they need to put the bank account (details) so we can transfer their allowances.    

“The issue of funds for allowances should not be the case now because as I am speaking, there is enough money to pay allowances.”

One of such is the need to bring in a neutral person, like a foreigner or most possibly, the United Nations, to run the elections.

This suggestion was made by the sitting Governor Powes Parkop, who described rumours of unethical conduct by certified officials as disgusting.

“Nationals don’t seem to have the ability to deliver smooth, fair and peaceful elections. It’s about time we swallow our pride and allow the EC to be led by a neutral person – a foreigner,” he said.

Governor Parkop pointed to election practice in other countries such as Solomon Islands and Fiji.