Abel to contest Milne Bay seat

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By HELEN TARAWA
TWO-TERM Alotau MP Charles Abel (2012-2017 and 2017-2022) has decided to contest the Milne Bay provincial seat on an Our Development Party ticket.
Also contesting the regional seat is retired diplomat Sir Charles Lepani (PNG Party), former governor (2012-2017) Titus Philemon (United Resource Party) and former Alotau MP (1987-1992) Iairo Lasaro.
Eighty-seven candidates have filed their nominations since Thursday for the five seats up for grab in Milne Bay.
Among the candidates for the 2022 general election are four incumbent MPs and four women.
The Neville brothers, Tim (former governor 1992-1997 and 2002- 2007) are returning to active politics after a long time.
His younger brother, Peter, is contesting for Alotau which he contested in 2017.
Assistant election manager Anna Dagobi told The National that the majority of candidates filed their nominations on Thursday and Friday.
The four women include National Alliance secretary public office Joyce Grant who is contesting in Kiriwina, businesswoman Jennifer Rudd (Milne Bay seat), Hellen Naidy Wasaelo, a pastor from Egadoi village, Dobu Island (Esa’ala open), and Natasha Panta (Alotau), a self-employed standing on a Pangu Pati ticket.
Anna said nominations period were peaceful with a continuous flow of hopefuls filing their nomination papers.
She said the weekend was quiet with only three Independents turning up to file their papers – one for Milne Bay provincial, two for Alotau on Saturday and one for Kiriwina on Sunday.
Anna said only two candidates filed their nominations yesterday, one for Samarai-Murua and another for Alotau.
As of Monday, the total number of candidates for Milne Bay are: Milne Bay provincial seat (15), Alotau (24), Esa’ala (13), Samarai-Murua (24) and Kiriwina (11).
Anna said more candidates were expected to file their nomination papers in the next two days before nominations for the general election close on Thursday.


Politics not for men only, says woman pastor
Hellen Naidy

PAPUA New Guinea (PNG) Party candidate for Esa’ala Hellen Naidy wants to prove that politics is not just a men’s game.
A pastor by profession, she took part as an observer in 2012 general election after being discouraged by family members to contest.
“General election 22 is the time for me to flex my political muscles, even if it means going up against my family members,” she added.
“In 2012, I went around the province, not for campaigning but to just talk to the candidates about a Kingdom government, according to Isaiah 9: 6-7.
“While everybody was campaigning, I told the men, go and campaign in the name of the Lord,” she said.
“In 2017, because my two cousins were running, my family told me to sit out and give my big brothers a chance so that the votes are not split. They did not make it.
“So, this time, it is my turn to bid for a seat in Parliament,” she added.
Hellen had been a pastor for 26 years with the Christian Outreach Centre, but had put that aside in support of her husband’s profession as a senior elder with Congress WBN and her political ambition.
With family members who are in religion and politics, her cousins are Dr Misty Baloiloi, contesting in Esa’ala under the National Alliance banner and Peter Niesi as an independent.
“Public speaking and public relations is natural to me because of my family background; my mum’s people are very open.
“My bubus were the first Bishops of the Papuan Islands United church,” she said.
Hellen told The National that she was almost not endorsed by the party as there was heavy opposition from certain incumbent MPs.
“Last June, the branch president approached me to join the party but just recently two MPs spoke to our party leader and told him to remove me,” she said.
In her view, the MPs were opposed to her running because of her standing in the province and her role as a no-nonsense woman.
“I am still strong, only if God removes me then I worry. After a few days, the branch president called me and said you are back in.”


Burning of posters reflects behaviour of leaders: Manning
Packed and ready … Supporters of Sergey Mosin contesting for the Moresby North-East seat overloading a vehicle during a rally and show of strength around the electorate yesterday. Some candidates have been going out after nomination to do rallies leading to the official campaign period. The National Capital District Metropolitan Superintendent Gideon Ikumu has urged candidates and supporters to avoid overloading of vehicles as this was a violation to traffic rules and compromised the safety of passengers and other road users during the election period. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI

By AILEEN KWARAGU
SUPPORTERS who burn posters of general election candidates and campaign paraphernalia is a bad reflection of leaders, Police Commissioner David Manning says.
“Such actions are unfortunate and unnecessary.
“There is no need for such irresponsible behaviour and actions,” he added.
Manning was commenting on one such incident in the Highlands.
“If the candidates are aware of what their supporters did, they need to be a responsible and accountable leader and address such uncivilised behaviour.
“Their action is a reflection on the type of leader they are supporting which also cause irreparable damage to their leadership and to the party they may be representing.”
Manning said police would look into the electoral offences to ensure supporters and their candidates behaved appropriately during the period of campaigning.
Meanwhile, he warned that any supporter found in possession of firearms would be arrested together with the candidate, if the latter supported his or her supporter.
“The candidate will be questioned whether he or she is aware of the firearm as the law on firearms was amended for a maximum life imprisonment sentence, if found guilty,” he said.


Cop: It’s just rescheduling of deployment of security personnel

Anton Billie

By GEORGINA KOREI
DEPUTY Police Commissioner (Operations) Anton Billie says the deployment of security personnel for the general election is scheduled and there is no delay.
“It is scheduled and targeted according to budget throughout the general election.
“We will ensure the smooth deployment of all the security personnel,” he added.
He said the available funding for the security deployment had been budgeted and “we use the funds wisely”.
“The budget is tight, so some security personnel were deployed earlier while others are to be deployed later for the polling and counting period,” he said.
He said for now the police units, especially in the Highlands, could adequately provide security for the nomination and campaign period.
“The support units from the headquarters would be deployed later to boost the security manpower.”
He said the deployment of all security personnel at once was a very expensive exercise.
“It is costly to deploy all the security personnel at the same time.
“We have to properly plan for the logistics, accommodation and welfare of the security personnel before sending them,” he added.
He said those deployed earlier would provide security during the nomination and campaign period and they would return as others would be deployed. “Those who are still here will still be deployed to their designated locations when others return,” he said.
Billie said police were trying to be operational wise with the funding, “so we have decided to schedule the deployment of security personnel at different times”.