Tinputz

Minister for Public Investment and State Enterprise, William Duma, revealed this in Parliament today.

Duma was responding to Bougainville Regional MP, Joe Lera, who queried why the Ramazon project was stalled. He asked why the hydropower facility was not built since its initiation between 2012 and 2013.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded project is expected to provide reliable power supply to 60-70,000 people of North Bougainville, especially those in Buka Town and surrounding villages.

The service providers are demanding the Electoral Commission to pay their outstanding payments before the ballot boxes are released.

The service providers are owed outstanding payments of K29 000 from the 2012 National Elections and K49 000 from the 2015 Autonomous Region of Bougainville Elections.

Bougainville election manager Desmond Pimiyaso said despite this hiccup, polling has been running smoothly with no intimidation, harassments or threats to voters and polling officials.