Deal boosts elections work

Central has signed an agreement with the PNG Electoral Commission to help deliver this year’s local level government elections.
Commissioner Patilias Gamato said the agreement binds both parties to work together to support the delivery of the elections in the province.
The agreement “defines how they will work together to support PNG Electoral Commission deliver the elections by cooperating and jointly coordinating resources, personnel and election activities across respective districts and LLGs”, Gamato said.
He said both parties agreed to work together with other stakeholders, communities and security forces to assist and provide resources in the planning and delivery of the elections. “The Central government will support PNGEC through its provincial EC to conduct elections,” he said.
He said this support includes improvement to key electoral events such as electoral roll development, candidate nomination, logistical and polling operations and counting and results management.
Gamato said the provinces to follow suit are Madang, Milne Bay and Northern while arrangements were being put in place for other provinces to have theirs signed.
“The rest of the provinces will be signing their agreements in the coming weeks and by the end of June, the commission expects all the MOUs signed and ready for immediate implementation,” Gamato said.