General-secretary explains delay in election results

Counting is yet to be done following the Papua New Guinea Teachers’ Association union elections because of the restrictions on public gatherings, says general-secretary Ugwalubu Mowana.
He made the comments in response to criticism from the public regarding the delay in the election of new members for the union.
Mowana said the election for the new members for the union was complete but counting was yet to be done due to government restrictions on public gatherings during the Covid-19 state of emergency.
He said he needed to set the record straight after a candidate for an executive position in the union claimed in The National on Friday that the current union had exceeded its term having been in office since 2005 due to failed elections in 2010 and 2015.
Mowana told The National that the alleged failed elections were due to circumstances beyond the union’s control.
“We did provided funding for the elections in 2010, and new members were elected. In 2013, the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) asked the office of the industrial registrar to conduct the election,” he said.
“Due to some in-house politics, the election was never conducted, instead, the office of the industrial registrar instructed PNGTA to audit and update its membership data.
“In 2015, PNGEC also invited the office of the industrial registrar to conduct the election, however, it was never competed due to some in-house politics issues. Once the government allows the restriction on gatherings, then the union will release funds for the counting and final process of the election can be concluded.”