Calls for new government to note observers’ recommendations

The new government should take heed of recommendations from the Commonwealth Observer Group and start preparing early for the 2022 general election, says Registrar of Political Parties Dr Alphonse Gelu.
He told The National yesterday that the Commonwealth observers had done their job and he had a preliminary report.
“I was happy with them identifying those very important areas such as the Common Roll and other issues like maintenance of the rule of law.
“This includes the role of the security forces who have done their best to ensure that this election is free and safe, but still not enough, according to my own assessment.
“What we are reading does not give us any great confidence of the nature of the election.
“People are still being killed, counting and polling officials have been harassed.”
Gelu said he recently travelled to Alotau with a group of police on election duty,who were not paid their allowances, and he had to give them some money.