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Election budget blows out
By SHEILA LASIBORI in Wewak
THE Government will have to fork out more money to fund the 2007
national election, and this could blow out the Government expenditure
plans and put pressure on the budget.
THE PNG Electoral Commission and the Police indicated yesterday that
they will be requesting additional funding during the course of the June
national election, although the Government initially set aside K130
million for it.
Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen and Police Commissioner Gari Baki
revealed this yesterday during the joint police and EC conference in
Wewak, East Sepik Province.
Mr Baki said police had initially requested for K84 million from the
National Government’s budget allocation to fund the security operations
during the elections but was given K50 million instead.
Already K10 million from this money had been released to police for
logistical preparations including communication and ammunition.
Mr Baki said about K6 million will go to cover the salaries of about
2,000 officers from police, Defence and Correctional Service, who will
be engaged for the security operations during the polling and counting
periods.
With K50 million going to police, Mr Trawen said K80 million will be
used by the commission for the election. But he said, this money would
be exhausted and more money is needed for the local level government (LLG)
elections throughout the country that will follow the national election.
Mr Trawen said the National Government had allocated K30 million for the
LLG elections but this money only covers the Highlands region and not
the whole country.
Meanwhile, Mr Baki said Southern Highlands and Enga provinces were the
only two provinces that would receive extra security attention during
the elections.
He said violence was widespread in these two provinces during the 2002
polls.
This time, any candidates arrested and charged by police for
election-related offences would be recommended for a lifetime ban from
contesting if convicted.
This is the stand the Electoral Commission (EC) and the police force are
taking in their attempt to ensure the election is conducted properly
throughout the country.
 
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