10,000 people in Bougainville may not vote

By VERONICA MANUK
MORE than 10,000 people in Panguna, Bougainville may not be able to vote because their names have not been included in the common roll.
Provincial returning officer Reitama Taravaru said they did not have time to go to Panguna for the roll update.
Mr Taravaru said he tried to seek approval from Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen for a supplementary roll for this area, but he denied the request.
The area in question was the Central Bougainville electorate which was the stronghold of late Francis Ona.
Mr Taravaru said Mr Trawen should understand the situation on Bougainville and must give special consideration.
He said the late update was the fault of the poll body because it failed to provide funds on time for the common roll update.
Mr Taravaru said the province received the funds late from Port Moresby and that roll update began only two weeks before the issue of writs.
“It was impossible for us to squeeze everything in so short a time,” Mr Taravaru said.
He said the law provided for a supplementary roll and could not see why Mr Trawen did not give Bougainville that chance.
Mr Taravaru said the poll body should give special considerations to the people of Panguna as it would be the first time for them to participate in an election after missing out in the past three national elections.
“The decision by the commissioner was crazy considering that he had been talking about free and fair elections,” Mr Taravaru said.

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