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Election officials impressed
ELECTION officials in the Western Highlands province are impressed with
the behaviour of the people and their candidates during the nomination
period. Unlike in the past national election, nomination for this
election was low key. Assistant returning officer for Hagen Central
Steven Ronomu said this was a sign of maturity. Mr Ronomu said
candidates were no longer interested in convoy of vehicles overloaded
with people. He said big names like Paias Wingti, Paul Pora and William
Duma came in and nominated quietly.
Schnaubelt to take on Chan
MARTIAL arts king Walter Schnaubelt has nominated to take on Byron Chan
in the Kavieng Open seat. Mr Schnaubelt is contesting under the Pangu
Pati ticket. His nomination in Kavieng last Saturday was witnessed by
Governor Ian Ling-Stuckey and 50 maimais (chiefs) from all over
Namatanai district. In a show of strength, 30 trucks formed a convoy
from Matantiduk village to the Namatanai district office, where the
sporting hero and businessman paid his nomination.
Cr eyes Kairuku Open seat
BROWN River councillor Peter Isoaimu is contesting the Kairuku Open seat
held by Sir Moi Avei. And a Central businessman Donald Agaru is
contesting against Rigo MP Anderson Vele. Both candidates are supported
by Central province Governor Alphonse Moroi. They were endorsed by the
Rural Development Party led by Moses Maladina. Mr Moroi said he had
groomed both Mr Isoaimu and Mr Agaru in the past five years and believed
they both had the potential to win their respective seats.
Sir Rabbie commits K30,000
MINISTER for Treasury Sir Rabbie Namaliu has committed K30,000 to assist
two primary schools in his electorate. K10,000 was given to Vunapope
Sacred Heart International Primary School to help them with their new
computer laboratory, while K20,000 was given to Raluana Primary School
for the building of a double classroom. The contributions were approved
by the Kokopo Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committee,
which Sir Rabbie chairs. The contributions were made last week before
the issue of writs for the elections.
NA withdraws candidate
THE National Alliance (NA) party has decided not to endorse any
candidate against Pangu Pati leader Sir Rabbie Namaliu. The announcement
was made after Sir Rabbie declared in Wewak last week that it will not
endorse a candidate against Sir Michael for the provincial seat. The
vice-president of NA in New Guinea Islands Tom Bullen said NA was
withdrawing its candidate in recognition of Sir Rabbie’s contribution to
the country. Mr Bullen said there was also a chance NA and Pangu would
form the next government.
Sir Rabbie wants to be PM
PANGU Pati leader Sir Rabbie Namaliu has announced that he is ready to
lead the nation in the next five years. Sir Rabbie said on Tuesday after
his nomination that he would bid for PM if Pangu Pati emerged with a
majority after the elections. He said running the country was not new to
him or Pangu. He believed that next the government would be a coalition
government and said Pangu was prepared to work with all parties, even
newcomers such as New Generation Party. Pangu was friends to all and
enemies to none, he said.
Tiensten to defend his seat
MEMBER for Pomio and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Paul
Tiensten has nominated to defend his Pomio seat as a National Alliance
candidate. He nominated at the Palmalmal station last Saturday which was
witnessed by a crowd of supporters from various parts of the Pomio
electorate. He told supporters he would continue to work towards opening
up Pomio with roads connecting the remote station to Kokopo and Kimbe.
He spoke highly of the controversial Illi-Wawas Integrated Forestry
Project, which will also develop roads.
Supporters told to behave
SUPPORTERS of candidates standing for elections have been urged to
behave themselves and respect public and personal properties. This was a
call made by a frustrated resident in Kokopo, Jack Tarwan, who claimed
he had betelnut spit all over his company vehicle on Tuesday by Pangu
Pati supporters, who were on a convoy while driving along the Karavi
road. He said Pangu leader Sir Rabbie Namaliu would not subscribe to
such behaviour and supporters should be respectful of others.
Rural power project will go on: MP
LUPA MP Yawa Silupa has assured people of the electorate that the K1.4
million rural electrification project would go ahead despite the
elections and the hype it created.
Mr Silupa said this at Lufa station, Eastern Highlands, on Monday after
he nominated to defend his seat.
He said workers from PNG Power would continue to install power lines,
which will connect Oliguti, Gotomi and eventually Lufa station.
Mr Silupa said whether he won or lost, the project would proceed.
Cooperatives overlooked: Kaut
RECENT comments by Morobe Governor Luther Wenge for the Government to
revive cooperative societies are misleading, a civil society
organisation has said.
The Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) PNG, which promotes
cooperatives in Morobe, said Mr Wenge’s comments were misleading as the
cooperative spirit had never died but was overlooked by governments and
leaders.
Jeffrey Kaut, project manager of ADRA’s economic development programme
said this after the launching of a cooperative society at Situm in the
Nabak LLG on April 25.
 
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