Electoral boundaries report to be tabled this week

By ISAAC NICHOLAS
The Electoral Boundaries Commission report on the proposed Hela and Jiwaka provinces will be tabled in Parliament this week.
Boundaries Commission chairman and Chief Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen yesterday handed over the report to State Minister Assisting the Prime Minister Wake Goi.
The report, once endorsed by parliament, will enable the Electoral Commission to plan for the two provinces in next year’s general election.
It means the Governor-General can issue the writs for elections in the two new provinces when writs are issued on April 27.
“The report is comprehensive with recommendations and is accompanied with 10 maps clearly showing the provincial and open electorate boundaries for Hela and Jiwaka,” Trawen said.
He said the main recommendations were the creation of new provinces using the existing boundaries, Koroba-Kopiago, Komo-Margarima and Tari-Pori making up Hela and Jimi, North-Waghi and Anglimp-South Waghi making up Jiwaka.
He said the report was compiled after two weeks of tour of Hela and Jiwaka provinces by the six-member Boundaries Commission team from August 28 to September 5, where a number of public forums had been held to gauge the views of the people.
“Given the very short time frame for the compilation of this report, the boundaries commission did its very best and held public forums at Koroba station, Tari town and Margarima station in Hela and Banz and Minj stations in Jiwaka to gauge the views of the people.”