Deferral of writs lawful: Matui

By REBECCA KUKU
THE deferral on the issuance of election writs is lawful, Constitutional and Law Reform Commission secretary Dr Mange Matui says.
“We agree with the Electoral Commission and the Justice and Attorney-General Department secretary Dr Eric Kwa’s legal position on the issue,” he said.
Matui said the general election was one of the fundamental pillars of democracy for people to express their democratic right either to stand for the election or vote for their choice of a leader.
“Therefore, it requires the continued observance and application of relevant laws to maintain the integrity of the electoral process and its final outcome,” he said.
Matui was responding to questions from The National on the constitutionality of the deferral.
He said the two-week delay on the issuance of writs to May 12 was still within the period of three months for the electoral process to take place from the date of the return of writs in the last general election (2017), as prescribed by law in Section 105 of the Constitution.
“The issuance of writs has been delayed, but the election has not been delayed as we are still within the three-month period required by the Constitution,” he said.
“The deferral may have slight implications on the other processes in terms of timing, but that does not make it unconstitutional.
“Election is a process commencing with the issue of writs and nomination, campaign, polling, counting and return of writs and declaration.”
Meanwhile, Matui said as custodians of the Constitution and the laws of Papua New Guinea, the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission would follow this year’s general election closely.