EC wants govt to reimburse K9m

By JACOB POK
THE PNG Electoral Commission wants the national government to reimburse K9 million taken from its 2011 budget to fund two by-elections this year.
The commission said the two by-elections conducted in North Bougainville and Kundiawa were not budgeted for.
The commission which has the constitutional duty to conduct elections had to fund the two by-elections.
Minister for State assisting the Prime Mi­nister on Constitutional matters Wake Goi said preparations for the 2012 national election were in progress but funding was a major concern for the commission.
He said ballot boxes, ballot papers and
indelible ink  were essential items for the election.
Goi said that despite assurances by the government to reimburse the amount in the 2011 supplementary budget in September, no funds had been provided.
“This would mean that the Electoral Commission’s 2012 election preparations in terms of logistics will definitely be affected unless the K9 million is reimbursed by the government,” Goi said.
Meanwhile, the tentative election programme for the 2012 national parliament general election is:
lIssue of writs: April 27, 2012 (4pm)
lNominations close:  May 4, 2012 (4pm)
lPolling starts: June 23, 2012;
lPolling ends: July 6, 2012; and
lReturn of writs: On or before July 27, 2012.