ECruling final

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By GYNNIE KERO
PRIME Minister Peter O’Neill says the decisions made by the Electoral Commissioner, in particular the appointments of election officials, are final and must be respected by everyone.
He said not even the Government could challenge the decisions by Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato. He told Parliament, in response to a question from Goilala MP William Samb yesterday, that the Electoral Commission was an independent constitutional office.
The question was in relation to the attack by locals on five Electoral Commission officials on Wednesday in Southern Highlands, who had gone to oversee the change in the provincial election manager – from David Wakias to Jacob Kurap.
Samb asked if the attack had resulted from appointments done contradictory to the recommendations by the commission.
O’Neill said he was not aware of the names proposed to the commissioner as election managers and returning officers.
“I will ask the commissioner (Patilias Gamato) to furnish a report and of course make that available to the member,” he said.
“One thing is certain – the decisions of the Electoral Commissioner must be respected. His decision is final it cannot be appealed or overturned by Government. We have no right to interfere with his decision.
“We can only express our dissatisfaction, our concerns to the commissioner. If he thinks that those concerns are unwarranted, he will make a determination from that and we all must learn to respect the decisions he has made.
“Of course we all want a fair and free elections, this sort of incidents must not be allowed to happen.”