Commission sets deadline for claims

National

THE Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC) has set Friday (Jan 31) as the final date for the submission of any outstanding claims for Referendum work by service providers and officials.
The BRC made the decision at last Friday’s commission meeting as it begins a three month wind up of all referendum operations.
All invoices should be for work undertaken before Dec 20, the end of the conduct of the referendum vote and count.
Acting chief referendum officer Desmond Tsianai said the BRC wanted to avoid the usual electoral practice of lingering outstanding claims.
“The referendum is now over,” he said.
“The commission is now winding up and everything must be completed as soon as possible. No claims will be received after this date as our finances are being finalised and audited, we cannot consider any payments after this date.”
Tsianai said the commission would continue to operate according to its charter, which included being professional and transparent.
“We were given limited funds from the two governments and the international community, and we continue to be accountable to those bodies during this wind up process.”
After the three months close down of operations, the commission will revert back to a transitional arrangement.
It will be co-chaired by the two electoral commissioners and the chief secretaries of the governments of Papua New Guinea and Bougainville.