Walter Schnaubelt

Chan is a member of the People’s Progress Party but maintained ranks with the O’Neill-Dion Government when the party broke ranks to team up with the Opposition. This was during the unsuccessful motion of the Vote of No-Confidence early this year.

The people of Namatanai District in New Ireland Province have spoken through the ballot papers.

Cousin and National Alliance Party President, Walter Schnaubelt, is the new Namatanai member declared midday yesterday after a landslide victory.         

Schnaubelt collected 1,976 more votes after the counting of the ballot boxes from the Namatanai LLGs.

After count 7, Schnaubelt was leading with 4659 votes and has now extended his lead by 1,976 votes after count 8, 9 and 10.

Schnaubelt’s progressive total after count 10 is 6635 votes and in second place is incumbent Open Member for Namatanai James Byron Chan on 5189 votes.

Coming in at 3rd place is Leonard Tonggo from Pangu Party on 35 votes, 4th place is Independent candidate Kiapgugu Ignatius Matius on 23 votes followed by Pastor Chan Philip on 17 votes.

Counting was suspended at 7pm on Sunday after count 7.

Walter Schnaubelt from National Alliance Party is currently leading the progressive tally for Namatanai Open after count 7 from the Matalai LLG.

Schnaubelt is in the lead on 4,659 votes and in 2nd place is People’s Progress Party candidate and incumbent Open Member for Namatanai James Byron Chan on 3318 votes.

Coming in at 3rd place is Leonard Tonggo from Pangu Party on 25 votes followed by Independent candidate Kiapgugu Ignatius Matius on 23 votes.

This pertains to the incident involving his security firm staff over the weekend.

Walter Schnaubelt, in a statement, said he is taking legal advice regarding the actions and comments of Tabali and the false media reports that have emanated.

Schnaubelt denies being involved in any kind of illegal activity that had any relation to the coming national elections.

Provincial Police Commander, Joseph Tabali, confirms that this came about after they received information alleging that some soldiers were on the flight upon a candidate’s request.

It was claimed that the flight was sponsored by National Alliance endorsed candidate for Namatanai, Walter Schnaubelt.

All 23 of them disembarked from the plane and were taken to the Kokopo Police Station where they were searched and questioned.

Police found out that three were soldiers of the PNG Defence Force.

NA Party General Secretary, Joyce Grant, today told Loop PNG that the report on social media is untrue.

“We do not print ballot papers,” Grant said.

She said the materials confiscated were posters and scrutineer forms for Walter Schnaubelt, NA Party endorsed candidate for Namatanai Open in New Ireland Province.

“I was the one who sent the materials as the party administrator.”   

But she confirmed that of the 40 people brought into Kokopo Police Station on Sunday, none were charged after being questioned.

The new double classroom was built at a cost of over K20,000 from a counterpart funding between the Matalai LLG (K10,000) and Walters Farming Association (WFA).

WFA chief executive officer Walter Schnaubelt, accompanied by various LLG presidents of Namatanai district, including Matalai, Tanir, Namatanai Rural and Sentral Niu Ailan, converged at Titigo Primary School to witness the official opening.