Councillors to elect presidents

 By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

ELECTORAL Commissioner Patilias Gamato says there will not be any election of local level government (LLG) presidents during the 2017 general election.

He said instead they would now be elected by councillors. 

“The National Executive Council has abolished the election of Local Level Government Presidents by the people and approved that they will be voted among the ward members,” Gamato said.

“PNGEC will only conduct council ward elections in 2017 and not the LLG presidential elections and the (Provincial Affairs) minister will issue writs for the council wards only.” He said the decision had been referred to the First Legislative counsel for drafting of law.

“The NEC has now determined that the election of presidents be done by councillors under section 12(1)(b) of the Local-level Government Administration Act 1997,” he said.

“As such, the Electoral Commission will not be required to conduct the presidential elections in 2017 except for the council ward elections.”

Gamato also clarified that as the LLG term of office was concurrently with Parliament, they would end when the current Parliament ended.

“LLG presidents and ward councilors cannot be compensated their benefits for one year (2018) as the term of office has shortened in accordance with the term of Parliament,” he said. 

“There is, therefore, no personal right given to each president or councilor for a term beyond what the law allows. They cannot claim for entitlements for a period beyond the date for the return of LLGs writs in 2017.”