Delays frustrate Jimmy

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By MALUM NALU
National Capital District election manager Alwyn Jimmy is increasingly frustrated with constant delays in counting in NCD.
He said a holdup on Tuesday night at the Rita Flynn Complex – where counting for regional and Moresby North-West was being done – was because scrutineers disputed ballot boxes.
Moresby North-East also continues to have problems.
Jimmy told The National yesterday that the scrutineers refused to listen despite everything being explained to them and even presiding officers were called in to verify boxes.
“We told them that the (electoral) commissioner has instructed us that he wants the counting to proceed,” he said.
“That’s why we opened the boxes and continued to count despite them trying to stop us.”
Jimmy said he was glad that Moresby-South had completed its counting without much problem and the declaration of MP-elect Justin Tkatchenko yesterday.
“They (Moresby-South) have done a good job,” he said.
“I praise them for what they have done as there were few hiccups.”
Jimmy said the problem in Moresby North-East was that election workers were complaining about their allowances.
“Polling officials who were sent out to the field want their money,” he said.
“That’s why counting is on and off.
“We want to see counting on time.”
Jimmy said the solution was that the commission should pay election workers all their dues.