Businesses wary of general election

BUSINESS houses in Madang will take precautions during the election period with nominations set to open today, according to the Madang Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
President Kevin Murray said presently there were no election associated problems in the province.
Murray said, however, there would be a need for extra police presence and foot patrols to address usual offences and other crime in the community as well as opportunists who could use the election period to cause disruptions.
Institute of National Affairs (INA) executive director Paul Barker said law enforcement agencies were stretched in the lead up to the general election.
Responding to recent violent incidents around the country, Barker said many of these fights were from long standing conflicts but exaggerated by resource benefit distribution complaints, envy, alcohol abuse, accidents and the presence of more firearms.
“The elections certainly risks adding fuel to the fire, although under the LPV (limited preferential voting) system conflict has been largely subdued at the voting stage, occurring in some electorates after the preferences are counted,” Barker said.