Association calls on union to release election funds

National

By KARO JESSE
PAPUA New Guinea Teachers Association (PNGTA) Central branch president Joseph Morgekua is calling on the PNGTA union to release funding for counting to complete its election process for new members.
Morgekua told The National that the counting process for the election for the union’s new members had yet to be done by the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC). Voting for PNGTA election closed on Feb 28, however, the counting is yet to be conducted because according to Morgekua, PNGEC would only proceed to counting when the funding was released.
Morgekua claimed that the current union which was elected in 2005, were still occupying the office despite having expired terms, according to the PNGTA constitution.
“This existing union has conducted two failed elections for the association due to the delay of the release of funds to complete election,” he said.
“The association goes into election after every three years, however, we still have the same members in the union that were elected in 2005.
“They are using a delay technique by not releasing the funds so they will remain as members for the union.
“This practice has caused failed elections in 2010 and 2015 for the association to elect new members.” Morgekua said the existing union was ordered by the National Court to release full funding for this year’s election, however, they had breached the order.
“Previous election was not completed due to the same mistake and I believe the current union is trying to do the same,” he said.
“I called on the union to release the funding so we can know our new members for the union.”