Chief Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai has called on all candidates and supporters across the country to respect each other during the campaign period and not to incite violence and trouble. “Elections are meant to be free and fair where citizens get the opportunity to choose their leader. There are rivalries in any contest whether it be politics or sports but we must always respect the rules of the game,” Mr Sinai said. Mr Sinai made the comments following reports of an incident that happened last Friday in Okapa where there was a clash between the supporter of sitting MP Saki Soloma and the public which resulted in the burning down of the convoy of vehicles belonging to the local Member. “I appeal to all citizens to respect one another during the campaign period. Candidates must use the time and opportunity to spell out your policies and voters must listen to their policy statements that would assist in making informed choices and decisions when casting your vote. No one should take things personal and incite trouble just because you don’t like personalities or group of people. This is a democratic country and let be mature and responsible in our thinking and have respect for others in the way we conduct ourselves,” he said.   “Let’s be civilized and do things the right way. The only way to show dissent is in the ballot box and not by use of force and intimidation. If you don’t like a candidate, you have that opportunity now to make your choice and not by confrontation.” The Commissioner further warned those individuals going around destroying candidates’ posters and election banners put up by political parties and candidates as such acts constitute and electoral offense and individuals can be arrested and fined or jailed once they are caught. “I urge all citizens to respect campaign posters and electoral materials put up by political parties and candidates and stop pulling them down or burn them. It is an electoral office and if anyone is caught engaged in such illegal acts, they can be arrested and fined or imprisoned for two years,” he said.

THE National Alliance (NA) Party has endorsed former premier of New Ireland Province, Pedi Anis as its new candidate to contest the Kavieng Open seat. Party president Stephen Pokawin declared this to over a thousand enthusiastic and proud NA supporters in a sea of red that flooded the Snafu oval in Kavieng town during a rally on the last day of nominations last Thursday. This follows a last minute ditch recently by former NA strong man and Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey to Pangu Pati. Mr Pokawin said the move came as a shock for the party; however this has not hindered the party’s spirit to field a vibrant and experienced candidate in Mr Anis from New Hanover for the Kavieng seat. NA Secretary General and candidate for Namatanai Open, Walter D Schnaubelt who will be comfortably re-contesting the seat welcomed Mr Anis and the wealth of experience he will bring to team NA in New Ireland in the 2022 National General Elections. “We need experienced people like Pedi Anis to provide guidance and advice to move us forward in our political aspirations in serving our people in the province. He said NA is anticipating a clean sweep for the three seats in New Ireland with another strong contender for New Ireland Regional, Augustine Molonges who hails from the largest Sentral Niu Ailan LLG in Namatanai as it prepares to enter the campaign trail. Mr Molonges has worked under Mr Schnaubelt for over 18 years was chosen in order to continue to provide government services to not only Namatanai district, but Kavieng district and New Ireland Province as a whole. Mr Schnaubelt who is also the NA team leader for New Ireland Province is promoting the NA candidates using his track record of excellent performance in service delivery for his people of Namatanai district as the platform to contest the elections. “When you vote SMA (Schnaubelt, Molonges, Anis) for the three seats in New Ireland you are rest assured that we will give you a “Double Dose Belhat Development” in terms of service delivery. “What that means is when a church, school or health centre receives funding of a certain amount in an electorate the same amount will be added by the provincial government to enhance service delivery,” Mr Schnaubelt explained. He said for example, if an electorate funds K10,000 for a school infrastructure project the provincial government will add another K10,000 to complete the project likewise other impact projects as well. The NA New Ireland candidate’s respective box numbers includes; Walter Schnaubelt (27) for Namatanai Open, Pedi Anis (21) Kavieng Open and Augustine Molonges (11) for New Ireland Regional.

New Queensland Coach Billy Slater has included four debutants as part of his side for Game One of the 2022 Ampol State of Origin series to be played at Accor Stadium on June 8. North Queensland forwards Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai have both been rewarded for their strong start to the year with selection in the side, while Broncos winger Selwyn Cobbo is also set to make his Origin debut after just 19 NRL games. Cobbo will be joined on debut Broncos forward Patrick Carrigan with fellow Brisbane teammate Thomas Flegler also included among the reserves. After missing last year's series with injury, Roosters prop Lindsay Collins returns to the side and is named on the bench. Titans captain Tino Fa’asuamaleaui moves to prop to replace Christian Welch, who is out with a season-ending achilles injury. Following his strong performance at hooker in Game Three last year, Ben Hunt has again been named to start at hooker with Harry Grant listed on the bench. Cowboys trio Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Murray Taulagi and Thomas Dearden have all been named among the reserves as the Maroons look to win back the Ampol State of Origin shield following their 2-1 series defeat in 2021. Queensland team for Game One Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights) Selwyn Cobbo (Brisbane Broncos) Valentine Holmes (North Queensland Cowboys) Dane Gagai (Newcastle Knights) Xavier Coates (Melbourne Storm) Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm) Daly Cherry-Evans, capt. (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles) Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans) Ben Hunt (St. George-Illawarra Dragons) Josh Papalii (Canberra Raiders) Kurt Capewell (Brisbane Broncos) Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm) Reuben Cotter (North Queensland Cowboys) Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm) Lindsay Collins (Sydney Roosters) Patrick Carrigan (Brisbane Broncos) Jeremiah Nanai (North Queensland Cowboys) Thomas Dearden (North Queensland Cowboys) Jai Arrow (South Sydney Rabbitohs) Thomas Flegler (Brisbane Broncos) Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (North Queensland Cowboys) Murray Taulagi (North Queensland Cowboys)

33 candidates will contest for the Gazelle Open seat in East New Britain Province following the close of nominations last Thursday. Gazelle Open Returning Officer John Wartovo said the 33 includes 30 males and 3 females, adding the order of draw has also been done. “14 candidates are endorsed by political parties and 19 are running as independent,” Mr Wartovo said. Sitting MP Jelta Wong is running under United Resource Party while former MP Malakai Tabar is running under the National Alliance Party. Meanwhile he said campaign activities have kicked started in the electorate and so far no major incidence has been reported.

National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu has called on intending candidates contesting the NCD Open electorates and the NCD Regional seat to show exemplary behaviour during their campaigning for the 2022 National General Elections during this time. He made the call to them during the order of draw after the closing of nominations late last week. “I expect you all as leaders and show maturity and be the model to others right throughout the country,” Mr Ikumu said. “I do not expect the kind of behaviour seen in various parts of the country to be happening here in the city.” He called on them to have control over their supporters and campaign coordinators to ensure law and order issues are minimized and controlled. “Police are not here to attack anyone, we want to work together with you all to ensure we have a fair, free and safe elections.” He said so far no arrests were made by police but if people defiantly refuse to comply with the laws, police will not hesitate to arrest the candidates for aiding, abetting and inducing such illegal activities.

An independent candidate contesting the Rigo open seat in the Central Province called on the people of Rigo to choose leaders and not politicians as the country’s 11th general election heats up and progresses towards polling. Dickson Guina, a former Department Secretary for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, told supporters during his nomination that this country has had politicians running the country over the years hence the lack of basic services. “A politician wants to come back in five years and thinks about the ‘hand-out’ mentality. I am not going to do hand-outs. I want to bring services to the people.” He said leaders have a vision, leaders have a passion, and leaders have a dream for change. He said the Rigo District has not seen changes because our leaders don’t have the passion, vision and dreams. “I have a dream; I want to see that Rigo is a changed district. And for that reason, I put my hand up to contest.” He reiterated his stand on the hand-out mentality saying he was not going to give free hand- outs, rather empower the people to have money in their pockets through key enablers. He said Rigo was now at the cross-roads and failing to make informed decisions come polling would result in the district continuing to starve of changes and tangible services. “Every ward, every LLG, every district in this country has a potential, but we have not tapped into those potentials.” He said when elected, he will ensure that Rigo District utilizes its full potential in terms of land, agriculture, tourism, human resources, and businesses. Mr. Guina said Rigo people have been deprived of their rights to development for the past 46 years. “I want to make sure that every Rigo person has a right to development, that our children are the best in terms of knowledge, that Rigo communities are smart to attract tourism,” concluded Mr Guina. [audio mp3="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Dickson-Guina-1.1.mp3"][/audio]  

The people of Takis ward in the Gazelle District of East New Britain will now have access to health care services following the opening of a new aidpost today. The new Takis Aid Post in the Lassul Baining LLG is expected to serve almost 2, 000 people in the area as well as communities in Panarapka, KKCL employees and the plantation workers with their families. The new level two aid post was built at a cost of K70, 000 under the Gazelle Development Authority budget and was officially opened by Gazelle MP and Health Minister Jelta Wong and the Gazelle DDA Board. Mr Wong said people have struggled for decades to access health services and now have a new health facility. “With health services at their door steps, it will reduce statistics on mothers dying due to birth complications and elderly people dying from curable diseases,” Mr Wong said. The facility was constructed by local company Atlu Civil Construction and designed and supervised by technical officers of the Gazelle District Administration.

An intending candidate for the Eastern Highlands Regional seat passed away on Wednesday night after he nominated to contest the seat earlier on during the day. Eastern Highlands Regional Returning Officer Livingstone Mangero said the late Moses Namagileso Tenkilo from Bena nominated as an independent candidate and was one of the top eight candidates during the 2017 National General Elections. Mr Mangero said his death reduced the total number of candidates who nominated from 64 to 63 for the Regional seat. “The final figures we have now consists of 61 males candidates and 2 female candidates, among them is the former Governor Julie Soso,” Mr Mangero said. He said nominations in the province had been commendable all along and most candidates who nominated were independent candidates. The order of draw for the candidates’ numbers for the Eastern Highlands Regional seat has been completed  at the Electoral Commission Provincial Office in Goroka. Photo credit: AHULO OTIO

The Acting Governor General Sir Gibbs Salika has extended the nomination period for the Hagen Open electorate from May 26, 2022 to May 29, 2022 at 4pm. The decision was made yesterday afternoon due to the controversies on the validity of the correct Returning Officer and the court proceedings that have caused confusion to the intending candidates. Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said the extension will give the opportunity for all intending candidates who haven’t nominated for Hagen Open to make their nominations. Nominations will be made before the duly appointed Returning Officer Willie Ropa after the Supreme Court decision yesterday. Mr Sinai called on all intending candidates who have not yet nominated to make nominations before Mr Ropa between now and Sunday May 29, 2022 at 4pm. Meanwhile all the nominations around the country ended yesterday at 4pm.

Ban on the selling and consumption of alcohol in Central Province is well underway at this time and the Provincial Liquor Officials as well as the security personnel are closely monitoring the ban. Central Province Administrator and Chief Liquor Commissioner Francis Koaba said the prime purpose of this liquor sales and consumption restriction is to ensure a peaceful and trouble-free National General Elections in the Central Province villages. The ban commenced on the date of the Issue of Writs on May 12, 2022 and will be lifted on the date of the Return of Writs on July 31, 2022. Central Provincial Police Commander Superintendent John Midi reiterated Koaba’s call adding that checkpoints are being established along the province’s highways to monitor the travelling public who fails to adhere to the ban notice. “The joint security personnel will not only be out on the roads but at the villages and areas where the election activities take place and monitor from there as well,” Mr Midi said.

Over 2000 intending candidates have been nominated to contest in the 2022 National General Elections as nominations closed at 4pm this afternoon. In a preliminary report by the Electoral Commission yesterday, the total number of candidates right throughout the country stands at 2351 with 2246 males and 86 females in the 22 provinces and the National Capital District. Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai said the final confirmed numbers will be issued tomorrow. Madang Province has seen the highest number of candidates so far with 257 and Manus with the least at 35. Enga, Hela, Jiwaka and Western Highlands provinces have seen no nomination of female candidates in this report.

The appointed Returning Officer for Hagen Open electorate in Western Highlands Province in the 2022 National General Elections will remain as the duly appointed RO following a Supreme Court order this morning. Justice Derek Hartshon made the decision following an appeal filed by the Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai to stay the National Court order on May 12, 2022 to restrain Willie Ropa and Mr Sinai from interfering with Amos Noifa who was also appointed per a National Gazette issued on May 6, 2022. The National Court order was made from an application filed by Hagen Open MP William Duma where he sought for Mr Noifa to be declared by the court as the Returning Officer for Hagen Open. The Supreme Court ordered that Mr Ropa remain as the Returning Officer and that all nominations done by Mr Noifa be returned to Mr Ropa. The issue of who is the legally appointed RO still remain in court. Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai in a press conference this afternoon said he had appointed Mr Ropa as published in the National Gazette however there was another Gazzette with the same description that had Mr Noifa's name as the RO where Mr Duma filed court proceedings based on this mix up.