Hagen polling deferred
The National, Friday July 26th, 2013
By JAMES APA GUMUNO
POLLING in the Hagen urban local level government in Western Highlands has been deferred to Monday because of security problems.
Election manager Philip Telape said seven council wards that failed to complete polling would continue on Monday.
Telape said except for Ward 5, there would not be any polling because all election materials had been destroyed.
He said because of the unrest in the city, he wanted to wait for police engaged in polling in the three other districts to return and tighten security there.
He said he wanted heavy police presence at every polling area in the city.
“I don’t want any more disturbances. People living in the city must elect their councillors and the lord mayor without any threat, intimidation and undue influence,” he said.
Telape said there were too many disturbances during polling areas in the province.
Deputy governor Wai Rapa confirmed that there was no proper polling in the Hagen rural local level government because of the new system where people were allowed to vote for the president.
Rapa said that there were so many problems in this election unlike the general election or the previous council election.
He said that in the past when councillors elected their president, they did not encounter such problems.