By CEDRIC LAGA
Western Highlands provincial election manager’s son was allegedly held hostage by frustrated bus and vehicle owners in the province over nonpayment of their buses hired by the electoral office.
Frustrated bus and vehicle owners held Mr Kala Rawali’s son inside the Kapal Haus, the provincial headquarter for about four hours before he was rescued by Mt Hagen police.
It was alleged that about 32 bus owners in the province are still waiting for their payments after their buses were hired by the electoral office in the province during the last national election.
Mr Taikone Papa, one of the bus owners who claimed to represent other concerned bus owners demanded an immediate answer from Mr Rawali, who was believed to be in Port Moresby.
Mr Papa, along with more than 10 vehicle owners came to the The National office yesterday and climed that the electoral commission hired their buses and vehicle for about two weeks.
They claimed that the electoral commission used their vehicles during the polling and counting period and owe them about K200,000.
They said they agreed on the rate of K300 per day for 15 small vehicles and K600 for the big vehicles.
A reliable source from the electoral commission’s office said the problem was not just faced by the people in the province; it was the same problem faced by vehicle owners throughout the country whose vehicles were hired by the electoral commission.
He said the electoral commission made arrangements to make payments in March this year and they are still waiting for funds.
He added that all claims for vehicles hired and other payments should be sent to Port Moresby to be processed.
He said about 60% to 70% of claims have already been processed and once the funds are sorted out other claims would be processed.
Provincial police commander chief Insp Ambane Kaiglo, when contacted yesterday, said that he was not aware of the frustrated vehicle owners helding Mr Rawali’s son hostage.