Election Schedule; announcement possible?

[Palm]

There was a theory floating around amongst us at the AGM as to when an announcement might happen to preceed Sept new government seating. If a utility feels the need to announce to alleviate energy security issues, it was discussed that they might want to announce prior to the new government being formed but not too soon and let Duma claim any fame for being part of putting it together. So, voting starts this Saturday, but when does it end? July 6th is the current end of voting and might be the latest an announcement might be made. The calendar for voting by region is not complete on the Elections website. If we knew when Duma's district votes it might be a time to watch:
http://www.pngec.gov.pg/

[ValueSleuth]

Palm,

Sir Rabbie said that the voting doesn't end until July 27 and the new government wouldn't be official for 10 days to two weeks after that -- maybe August 7 at the earliest.

VS

[efi426hemi]

Hey VS,

The writs aren't returned until July 27th, voting is done on July 6th. Presumably when the writs are returned, the government is able to function normally again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_G...tion,_2012

Health and Happiness,
hemi

[Tree]

Hey wantoks,
I saw an article that said voting takes 2 weeks, counting votes 3 weeks and then up to couple of months for the establishment of new government. The drama begins as they form the new gov't. Maybe Susuve will supplant Duma. Wouldn't that be sumptin?

[ValueSleuth]

Let's not get tied up in semantics.

Until the votes are counted, the election isn't over. Both what Tree and Sir Rabbie said is that the election results won't be known until July 27.

Clearly, if the election results are not known until then, a new government (PM, NEC, Department ministers) can't be appointed until then.

Sir Rabbie says this can be done in 10 days to 2 weeks, certainly a lot shorter time than the longer possibility mentioned by Tree.

I'll stick with August 7 at the earliest and hope that it is then or not much later before pictures can be taken with the announcement of a deal or deals blessed by the PNG government.

VS

[Palm]

VS, that's not the point. The point is strategically IF the winning party wants to keep Duma from getting any credit and momentum for the voting, and feels the need to announce a deal subject to the new NEC approval, it would be wise to wait until voting is done in his precinct. In the post AGM Phil said clearly that the different bidders could have differing needs as far as announcing a deal. He used utilities as an example. For instance, if JKM gets the bid, Japan as a nation has a lot of uncertainty regarding their energy future. In fact the pressure is on to restart some of the nukes to avoid a rationing of power and further damage to their economy. LT most people in Japan are scared to death of nuclear power, in fact a recent poll showed there is MORE fear now than just after it happened. Japan is unde great pressure from within to secure safe and secure energy sources. They may have the desire to announce before other bidders might. Collin stated the same. IOC's desire to be safest is to wait until the new government is in place, which is wise. So there is some ncertainty as to when an announcement. COULD be made.

Secondly, Japan has made it clear that a stable government is necessary for future investment (as stable as possible anyway). There seems to be a bit of nervousness about what stability there might be with a Duma not only getting elected, but carrying very many MPs wih him. They may want no Duma or a weak Duma. Voting clearly is over July 6 per the PNG Elections office website. There is language on their site indicating that different precincts might vote at different times. IF Duma and Somare's precincts voting is complete on or before June 30 (for instance), it might be wise to avoid any announcement until at least then to avoid his taking credit for bringing this project home. At the latest we know July 6 is the last time anyone can vote as far as making a difference.

Not saying the only way for this to be signed sealed, delivered and NEC approved it must be done by the new government, but there is a chance an announcement COULD come before and not be binding until new NEC approval. Even Sir Rabbie stated that whomever becomes PM will approve the project; it's a matter of having as cohesive a government in place as is possible. These companies and countries have seen too much trouble over the last 5 years.

[Palm]

We have a partial answer. Per The National in a Wednesday the Souhern Highlands and Hela voting will be one day; this Saturday:
"Hela, SHP to vote on Saturday
Source: 
The National, Wenesday June 20th, 2012
By JAMES APA
GUMUNO
SOUTHERN Highlands and Hela provinces are preparing for the polls on Saturday.
Southern Highlands election manager David Wakias said  471 polling teams would be deployed to five districts in the province –  Mendi, Nipa-Kutubu, Imbonggu, Kagua-Erave and Ialibu-Pangia – to conduct polling on Saturday.
Wakias said 2,355 polling officials would be involved in the elections.
He said polling would be for one day only and polling teams assigned to remote areas such as Mt Bosavi would be sent on Thursday and Friday.
He said polling teams assigned to areas accessible by road would leave early on Saturday.
Wakias said ballot papers would be distributed to the polling teams who would be escorted by security officers.
He appealed to the people to be present at their respective polling stations early.
Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga said about 50% of the 8,000 members of the combined task force would be engaged in the highlands for the elections."
http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/34475

Duma is in the Western Highlands. Wonder when thy vote

[Tree]

Not so fast my leeetle friend Palm. Here we go. Excuses and demands for cashola. I had no idear Hela was chock full of Seventh Day Adventists.

**********

Funding woes imperil PNG’s Hela election
Posted at 01:38 on 20 June, 2012 UTC
The chief executive of Papua New Guinea’s newly created Hela Province, William Bando, says he has no money to complete the elections due to start this weekend.
The Post Courier reports that an allocation of just under five million US dollars has already been spent.
The Hela Transitional Authority, which Mr Bando heads, is still waiting on a 380,000 US dollar reimbursement from the Electoral Commission to subsidise costs for the remainder of the election period.
He says he doubts polling can begin this Saturday.
Another factor is that many of the Hela people are Seventh Day Adventists and so would prefer polling to start on Monday.

[Palm]

That's for the SDAs. Not concerned about that too much. Just found answer to when Duma's election is; Western Province vote is June 29th per Post Courier article:
http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20120620/news08.htm

Hohoho

[Palm]

Official polling schedule:
http://masalai.wordpress.com/polling-dat...elections/