Hela expected to elect acting governor

HELA is expected to elect an acting governor today during the provincial assembly meeting in Tari.
Deputy governor and acting assembly chairman Thomas Potape told The National yesterday that the meeting would go ahead this morning.
Potape last Tuesday adjourned the meeting to July 28. But he changed his mind after meeting officials from Department of Provincial and Local Level Government last weekend. He also met with Hela MPs James Marape (Tari-Pori), Philip Undialu (Koroba-Lake Kopiago) and Francis Potape (Komo-Magarima). “The assembly will take place tomorrow (today),” he told The National yesterday.
“The vote (for acting governor) will take place.”
Potape said it was not good for Hela leaders to be bickering over the position of acting governor.
“I have checked with the three MPs and assembly members and they are all ready to go for the election,” he said.
Potape said the 13 members of the provincial assembly would cast their votes today. This includes the three MPs, eight local level government presidents and two members representing the churches and women.
“It is fair that we go ahead and hold the assembly,” he said.
The seat will be contested by Undialu and (Francis) Potape.