Funding delays probe: Police

FUNDING has been the main issue that Morobe police face when carrying out investigations into the major election incidents that happened in parts of the province, an official says.
Morobe provincial police commander Supt Jacob Singura said the lack of consistent and adequate funding had delayed investigations.
He said this however, did not mean that police would shirk its duty to ensure those who had committed offences and caused disruption in the General Election were charged and prosecuted.
He said his officers would start investigations once funds were made available.
“Candidates who are found to be involved in those incidents will still be arrested and charged together with their supporters,” he said.
The main incidents that happened during the General Election 2022 (GE22) during the campaign, polling and counting processes were the one at Finschhafen’s Mindik village during the campaign period, Markham and Kabwum during the counting and at Sialum.
Singura said for Markham incident there were still more arrests to be made apart from the first five that were arrested while for Kabwum, the investigation was yet to be conducted.
“Police need assistance at the district level to carry out their investigations into those election related incidents.
“We will not let those incidents go unattended,” he said.

Iduhu is first Hiri-Koiari MP

KEITH Iduhu is inaugural member for the Hiri-Koiari electorate in Central after his declaration at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby last Friday.
Speaking during the declaration, the New Generation party leader said under his leadership, he would focus on land reform, tax regime, economic stimulus and education.
Iduhu said land reform was key to unlocking economic reform in the district and the country.
“We will create a national customary land policy that will form and secure titles for all clans and unlock the economic potential of every family and clan,” he said.
He said establishment of food consolidation centres would help the grassroots economy in the district.
“This will promote and direct investment into the district and the province,” he said.
Iduhu said the district was left behind because there was not enough support going towards education.
“Therefore, we will build technical secondary schools and authorise the Metago University Act for a bible-based university in the district,” he said.
Iduhu said they would establish the Kokoda memorial highway and guide the Kokoda Trek Management Bill to meet the interest of the people of Mt. Koiari that live along the trek.
“This will open up Mt. Koiari to the world as they’ve been denied access for some time including education and other basic services,” he said.
Iduhu polled 13,447 votes, passing the absolute majority mark of 11,595.
United Resources Party candidate Steven Manai John was the runner-up with 9,742 votes.

Election planning needs to be done well: Singura

SECURITY provided at General Election 2022 (GE22) sites in Morobe were planned well before the event and are adequate, police say.
Morobe police commander Superintendent Jacob Singura said much of the violence that happened in parts of the province had been contained by the security force.
“The only problem that we faced was proper planning from the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission (PNGEC) level,” he said.
“Their planning needs to be effective and should come in advance, well before the GE22 starts.”
He said police should have carried out awareness in communities well before the issue of writs to educate people about what to do and what not to during the election.
“We have gone through elections over the years but many people still do not know fully the meaning of it,” he said. Singura thanked the service provided by the PNG Defence Force and Correctional Services to help police during election.
He said the PNGEC should plan now after experiencing what happened for elections ahead.
“Security personnel should be the first people on the ground before election officials can go in to conduct polling or counting,” he said.
Singura added that for Morobe, security personnel stationed at different locations in the province to help in the election process did their best.
Meanwhile, South-Western Zone and Wau Police Station commander Senior Insp Leo Kaikas said the security issue they faced was during transportation of ballot boxes, counting and declarations.
Kaikas said some security personnel in Morobe were yet to get their allowances.

MP focuses on economic independence for his district

OBURA-Wonenara member-elect John Boito says he wants economic independence for his people.
Boito, who arrived in Port Moresby yesterday with other members from Eastern Highlands and Morobe, said he would support the Pangu government because of their policies.
“The Marape government is focusing on economic independence and this is what I want for my people for the next five years,” he said.
Boito said Pangu had also introduced the small to medium enterprise (SME) policy and the initiative on economic independence.
“I will continue the SME policy and also Connect PNG for my people.
“We will continue and deliver so that my people of Obura-Wonenara can benefit and be independent economically,” he said.
“When I was MP from 2007 to 2012, there was so much talk about DSIP but only selected members were given DSIP. I was one of those who received less funds although we were promised K10 million a year for our districts.”