Dua apologises to people, businesses over disruptions

By LUKE KAMA
CHIMBU Governor Michael Dua has apologised to business houses and the public in Kundiawa for the disruptions caused over the last two weeks by a peaceful protest by his supporters.
Many have come to Kundiawa to protested against the venue for the recount of the provincial seat set by the Electoral Commission (EC) for Lae.
The recount was ordered by the Waigani National Court on Nov 27 last year following a election petition filed by former governor Noah Kool challenging the win of Dua in the 2017 national election.
However, Chimbu people are not happy with Lae as the counting venue and are protesting in Kundiawa, blocking EC officials and security personnel from transporting the containers to Lae.
There were protests also along the road starting from Munde, the border of Chimbu and Western Highlands to Mangiro on the border of Chimbu and Eastern Highlands, demanding that the recount venue be changed to either Eastern Highlands, Chimbu, Jiwaka or Western Highlands.
Dua, while expressing his apology to the business community and the travelling public for the disturbances and the inconveniences caused, commended his people for expressing themselves in a very respectful and polite manner.
“I must also commend our Chimbu people for their maturity because they did not damage any public or private property,” he said.
“They are only putting the PNGEC and Government agencies responsible for election on notice that their decision and actions are wrong and suspicious.
“The PNGEC is the cause of all this.”
Dua said he was happy with the decision of the court for the recount as there was a 11,000-plus vote difference between him and Kool.
He appeal to his people to respect the court’s decision and allow the recount to go ahead.
He also called on officials and police to do their jobs honestly during the recount.