All goes well in Madang despite delay

 By JAYNE SAFIHAO

POLLING in Madang has started well despite a four-day delay, returning officer Philip Enn said last weekend.

But Enn said there was a need for the rapid deployment of procurement supplies from headquarters so that teams going out to remote areas by planes could be sent immediately.

He said Middle Ramu, parts of Raicoast and the Gama local level government in Usino-Bundi were some of the areas that were likely to be affected.

Polling in the Yawar LLG in Bogia, Karkar Island in Sumkar district and Gama started last Thursday, Enn said.

He said Sumgilbar LLG in Sumkar, Ambenob and Madang Urban in Madang district and Iabu LLG in Bogia followed on Friday.

Voting in Usino-Bundi Almami in Bogia and Transgogol in Madang started on Saturday.

Provincial election manager Cyril Retaw said the far-flung districts that needed planes to deliver polling teams had their bills settled and should have started voting on Monday.

Eighteen rural LLGs would have been covered during the 35 days of polling ending on August 9.

Enn confirmed that 237 policemen would be engaged.

Primary counting for the LLGs that started early has started with results to be known by the end of week.

Meanwhile, electoral officials from Port Moresby were in the province for the recount of the Usino-Bundi seat as ordered by the court.