06-20-2012, 06:06 AM
Election head predicts flying start to PNG's big day
By Online Editor
09:27 am GMT+12, 20/06/2012, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea's national elections are on track for Saturday - after the chief electoral officer coped with hiccups including the crash-landing of a plane carrying crucial ballot papers.
Electoral commissioner Andrew Trawen told Radio Australia's Tok Pisin service that the success he predicts – “I was always confident" - comes down to planning and a hard-working staff.
“We have put out very extensive strategies with the (help) of the Electoral Support Program funded by the Australian Government,” he told Pius Bonjui.
Touching on political doubts in Port Moresby before the polling date was set, Trawen said: “Despite what happened in political circles, we were confident that we were dealing with the elections this year.”
The commissioner's website says 3,435 candidates have nominated for the national elections - the highest number since the first post-independence poll in 1977.
Commissioner Trawen said there are also a record number of 135 women candidates.
Everything is in place, although a chartered aircraft raised concerns when it crash-landed at the end of a runway in West Sepik province with a load of voting papers.
“But we managed to get another plane and move the materials up the river . . . in time for the election,” Trawen said.
“I am pretty confident now that everything is in order.”
In the past, provincial officials have been known to demand payment before starting work.
Trawen conceded in “one or two areas” this time people “refused to allow us to hold the elections and I think it was cleared after I made some payments”.
He is grateful to Australia and New Zealand for support. Australian Defence Force C130 planes and helicopters have carried materials and staff into the rugged Highlands and elsewhere.
A civilian corps has trained staff.
Trawen said Prime Minister Peter O'Neill arranged the assistance with Australian leader Julia Gillard during a visit to Australia last October.
New Zealand has given maritime help, ensuring materials got to Bougainville island autonomous province and the Milne Bay region.
“We are very grateful to both governments.”
Meanwhile, PNG election candidate, Margaret Lokoloko Hapea, says she expects at least 10 women to win seats in the upcoming general election, despite the government's failure to pass a bill reserving seats for female candidates.
In Feburary, a proposed Women's Bill to set aside parliamentary seats for female candidates failed to get the absolute majority needed to have it passed before this month's elections.
Hapea says she will push to have 22 seats reserved for women in the next election in 2017.
Hapea told Radio Australia that despite the failure to have seats reserved in this year's election, younger generations will vote for change.
“I'm telling the youth and the women that this is time for change. You put the mother in and mother cares for women.”
Hapea is one of five females out of 19 candidates contesting the NCD regional seat.
Despite the difficulties women traditionally face in raising campaign finance across Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, Hapea believes commitment to her cause will allow her to overcome this.
“For me, finance is not the issue. It's building up the passion amongst the voters that they need a change. Change for the better.”
“Last 5 years no change, we've become poorer and poorer.”.
By Online Editor
09:27 am GMT+12, 20/06/2012, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea's national elections are on track for Saturday - after the chief electoral officer coped with hiccups including the crash-landing of a plane carrying crucial ballot papers.
Electoral commissioner Andrew Trawen told Radio Australia's Tok Pisin service that the success he predicts – “I was always confident" - comes down to planning and a hard-working staff.
“We have put out very extensive strategies with the (help) of the Electoral Support Program funded by the Australian Government,” he told Pius Bonjui.
Touching on political doubts in Port Moresby before the polling date was set, Trawen said: “Despite what happened in political circles, we were confident that we were dealing with the elections this year.”
The commissioner's website says 3,435 candidates have nominated for the national elections - the highest number since the first post-independence poll in 1977.
Commissioner Trawen said there are also a record number of 135 women candidates.
Everything is in place, although a chartered aircraft raised concerns when it crash-landed at the end of a runway in West Sepik province with a load of voting papers.
“But we managed to get another plane and move the materials up the river . . . in time for the election,” Trawen said.
“I am pretty confident now that everything is in order.”
In the past, provincial officials have been known to demand payment before starting work.
Trawen conceded in “one or two areas” this time people “refused to allow us to hold the elections and I think it was cleared after I made some payments”.
He is grateful to Australia and New Zealand for support. Australian Defence Force C130 planes and helicopters have carried materials and staff into the rugged Highlands and elsewhere.
A civilian corps has trained staff.
Trawen said Prime Minister Peter O'Neill arranged the assistance with Australian leader Julia Gillard during a visit to Australia last October.
New Zealand has given maritime help, ensuring materials got to Bougainville island autonomous province and the Milne Bay region.
“We are very grateful to both governments.”
Meanwhile, PNG election candidate, Margaret Lokoloko Hapea, says she expects at least 10 women to win seats in the upcoming general election, despite the government's failure to pass a bill reserving seats for female candidates.
In Feburary, a proposed Women's Bill to set aside parliamentary seats for female candidates failed to get the absolute majority needed to have it passed before this month's elections.
Hapea says she will push to have 22 seats reserved for women in the next election in 2017.
Hapea told Radio Australia that despite the failure to have seats reserved in this year's election, younger generations will vote for change.
“I'm telling the youth and the women that this is time for change. You put the mother in and mother cares for women.”
Hapea is one of five females out of 19 candidates contesting the NCD regional seat.
Despite the difficulties women traditionally face in raising campaign finance across Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, Hapea believes commitment to her cause will allow her to overcome this.
“For me, finance is not the issue. It's building up the passion amongst the voters that they need a change. Change for the better.”
“Last 5 years no change, we've become poorer and poorer.”.
