Candidates pay fees as nominations open

By DOROTHY MARK
CANDIDATES contesting local level government (LLG) seats in Madang joined the rest vying for council to pay their nomination fees yesterday when writs opened at 4pm.
Provincial returning officer Justine Pantumari said assistant returning officers were stationed at their respective LLG bases from yesterday afternoon to receive nominations.
Pantumari said the provincial steering committee had resolved that there be friendly nominations, meaning it would be conducted flexibly to allow candidates in remote areas to pay cash as nomination fees.
“It is to save time and to avoid situations like getting robbed on their way to town or avoid other additional expenses,” he said.
Pantumari said more than 500,000 people living in 451 wards in Madang would have to manage law and order during the election period because there would be no police security.
He said there was no budget for police security so candidates would be asked to make sure their supporters did not cause trouble.
Pantumari said time for the election was limited since the court took up some weeks in clearing griefs.
He said the Madang electoral commission office decided to increase the number of polling teams from 152 to 468 so they could conduct polling faster and before writs were returned next month.
“Madang is a very challenging district in terms of its geographical situation and we will need land, sea and air transport,” Pantumari said.
He said Madang shared land boundaries with Eastern Highlands, Enga, Western Highlands and East Sepik and it would be very difficult to cover the area in the limited polling period given, but they would try their best to complete the election within schedule.
Pantumari said Madang administrator Joseph Bonomane as chairman of the provincial election steering committee had given assurance that the committee would assist with logistics, including polling allowances.
He said assistant returning officers in various LLGs asked to assist in areas needed by requesting various MPs for support.
Pantumari said Madang MP and Police Minister Bryan Kramer, Bogia MP Robert Naguri and Raicoast MP Peter Sapia made commitments to support their electorates with logistics.
Sumkar MP and Correctional Services Minister Chris Nangoi said he would also assist his electorate where he could.