B’ville preparing for polls with K13mil budget

BOUGAINVILLE Electoral Commissioner George Manu says they are preparing for the fourth Bougainville elections and writs will be issued on June 17.
“The election budget is K13.5 million and we will be using the common roll that was used during the Bougainville referendum,” he said.
“We are still updating the roll till the writs are issued in about two weeks.” Manu said the election would take three months and the writs would be returned to the governor-general on Sept 15.
“At the moment the preparation is processing well,” he said.
“The conduct of the ABG election will be similar to the conduct of the referendum.
“But we have cut down the operation because we don’t have money, unlike for the referendum.
“But we are confident that we will deliver.
“We will conduct the ABG elections in East and West New Britain, Morobe, Madang, Eastern Highlands and the National Capital District because the referendum was also conducted in those centres.
“Polling will start on the first week of August.
“And I’m thankful to the Australian government for coming to our assistance again, paying for the ballot papers.
“And that is a relief for us with the scare resources we have.
“The ABG is struggling for money just like the National Government.
“But we will get there.”