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Sports |
Clear the air on electoral officers
WITH the national election only
months away, it appears the panic button has been switched on
again.
Members of Parliament who have delivered services to their
electorates will experience some easy rides.
Others who seek ‘thy kingdom come on earth’ will deserve some
nerve-wrecking anxieties and must pay for not living up to their
election promises.
MPs in the latter category are in a dilemma.
Time is short. Parliament has reduced the normal eight weeks of
canvassing for elections to just four weeks prior to balloting.
Potential candidates and private big money spinners with political
ambitions are already deep into their campaigns, making it
difficult for sitting MPs.
In my electorate of Kagua Erave, Southern Highlands province, the
silly season has begun taking its victims.
Returning officers are public servants who were appointed to
uphold the integrity of the Independent State of PNG and have
sworn to oversee and ensure due process takes its course.
For the sake of the voting public of Kagua Erave, the Electoral
Commission must clear the air on who appoints the returning
officers or the election managers in each electorate.
I am of the view that returning officers and election managers are
public servants, who are selected on merit by the Electoral
Commissioner to serve impartially.
Unless the commission allays these fears, and despite the State of
Emergency in the province, manipulation, vote rigging and tribal
confrontation is probably imminent.
I urge Southern Highlands MPs to respect the rule of law and human
rights and allow the running of the elections to rest entirely in
the hands of the Electoral Commission.
Lapan Mirupasi
Porane village
 
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