ENB gets ready for elections

 PREPARATIONS for the local level government elections in East New Britain are on track, officials say.

Provincial election steering committee chairman Edward Lamur said voters would be electing 16 presidents, town mayors for Rabaul and Kokopo and 357 ward councillors to represent them in the provincial and local level government assembly.

The limited preferential voting system will be used.

The elections will be jointly funded by the East New Britain provincial government and PNG Electoral Commission.

The tentative dates are – issue of writs June 6, closure of nominations June 12, polling starts July 6, polling ends Aug 9 and expected writ returns Aug 30.

The electoral commission has allocated K95,000 to the provincial government to conduct the elections. 

The ENB government has allocated K200,000.

The joint district planning and budget priorities committees in Kokopo, Pomio and Gazelle have each contributed K50,000. Rabaul has given K60,000.

The 18 LLGs have been allocated K10,000 each.

The election is expected to cost K1.4 million.

Lamur also named assistant returning officers for the 18 LLGs. 

Kokopo district:  Bitapaka LLG – Thomas Monep; Raluana – Peter Lapin; Duke of York – Darius Kunai; Kokopo Urban – Clement Irasua.

Rabaul district: Rabaul Urban – Freddy Lemeki; Balanataman – Babel Umri; Watom – Kepas Piniau; Kombiu – Donald Terarup.

Gazelle district: Toma-Vunadidir – Sammy Rupen; Central Gazelle  – Joe Ringo, Livuan-Reimber – ToKunai Wartabar; Lassul Baining – Joachim Kinakap; Inland Baining – Nelson Eremas.

Pomio district: East Pomio – Nyros Aume; Melkoi   – Wesley Palor; Central Pomio – Jimmy Ravao; West Pomio Mamusi – Pius Maka; Sinivit – Alan Balbal.

Lamur said the electoral roll was being updated, with assistant returning officers training village recorders to get names of eligible voters.