Ex-councillor urges business houses to allow workers to vote

 By JAYNE SAFIHAO

FORMER ward two councillor in Madang district Chris Tomongo is calling on business houses to release their workers to vote.

He made the call on Tuesday.

The Madang by-election will be held on Saturday.

Tomongo said provincial administrator, Ben Lange, should encourage more participation from employees by getting their empolyers to release them either for a day, during voting or have a public holiday so that even the tertiary students could vote.

“I call on Lange to write a letter to the electoral commissioner,  Andrew Trawen, seeking his endorsement for such and then have that enforced in the province,” he said.

Tomongo said most shops had strict trading hours and did not allow their staff time off so that they could to vote.

He said many public servants also had run off to vote.

“Though people know it is their right to vote, many are not being given the chance.”

The writs for the Madang open by-election was served last Thursday. 

Eight candidates have been nominated to date.

He said former Middle Ramu assistant returning officer  Adolf Duangha would be the returning  officer.