Giant-slayer Kaeok wins

PANGU PATI’S Miki Kaeok turned into a political giant-slayer when he unseated incumbent Wapenamanda MP Rimbink Pato (United Party) yesterday.
Kaeok knocked out Pato when he passed the absolute majority with 29,256 votes, edging the two-term MP Pato to runner-up who was at 22,692.
The second-runner up was Danny Terep Katie (Independent – 16,635).
The seat was contested by 21 candidates.
Pato was a former Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister.
Kaeok said he won because the voters knew he had done much for them.
“They know I can deliver the services that they need,” he added.
“As a member of the Pangu-led Government, I plan on building Wapenamanda and will prioritise human resources development in my five-year term.”
Kaeok said he was delighted to join the Pangu camp with more than 20 MPs declared so far.
Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, who was at Jackson International Airport yesterday to receive Kaeok, denied that there was disharmony in Pangu Pati between MPs from Mamose and the Highlands.
Rosso, who was re-elected as Lae MP, said: “The whole purpose of Pangu is Papua and New Guinea unite. Pangu does not belong to Mamose or Morobe or Sepik or the Highlands.
“Pangu is a nationalistic party and represents the nation, not one particular province or region.
“And we stand united as a party, with our party leader, the Prime Minister James Marape.
“We will support him to form the next Government with our coalition partners.”

East Sepik official arrested for alleged breaching of process

AN ELECTION official in East Sepik was arrested on Saturday for allegedly not following the counting procedure for the Angoram Open seat, police say.
East Sepik Provincial Commander Supt Albert Beli said John Kambak, the Returning Officer for Angoram Open, was charged with abuse of office. He was released on a K1,000 police bail.
It was alleged that during the of counting of ballot boxes for the Angoram seat, Kumbak failed to conduct ballot returns and quality checks with the scrutineers, to reconcile the figures.
Kumbak was also allegedly involved in the handling of a ballot box from Karawari village to Wewak and back.
Beli said the alleged incident was reported last Friday by five candidates contesting the Angoram seat.
“Candidate Charlies Andrew and four other candidates reported the incident which led to the arrest,” he said.

Late Nakin wins in North Bougainville

INCUMBENT North Bougainville MP William Nakin, who passed away after polling on July 12, has won the seat.
The late Nakin, who crossed the absolute majority with 14,266 votes, beat 15 candidates to defend the seat successfully.
The runner-up was Louta Atoi (People’s Party – 11,171 votes).
And the Electoral Commission will have to set a date as soon as possible to hold a by-election to fill the vacant office of North Bougainville.
Nakin was first elected as MP in the last general election (10th Parliament) in 2017 and was in the bi-partisan committee on Bougainville matters.
He joined the Government on Sept 10, 2019 and was appointed assistant Speaker of Parliament on Sept 1, 2020.

Penalties for those who delay counting

ANY public servant found to be delaying the counting of votes can be charged with interfering in an election, and fined K500 or be jailed for a month.
Ivan Pomaleu, the chairman of the Inter-Department Election Committee, and secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council, said it was important that all writs be returned by Friday, Aug 5.
“The extension of the date of the return of writs will cost taxpayers more money to adequately complete the election process,” he said.
“Therefore, it is necessary for me to direct that any public servants causing delays in the counting must be charged for interfering in an election.
“Section 178(1)(h) of the Organic Law on elections says that inciting or encouraging, whether publicly or otherwise, disturbances to interfere in an election is an offence.”
He said the penalty was a fine not exceeding K500, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month, or both.
“These provisions of the Organic Law on elections must be implemented,” he said.
“Other offences under the Public Service Management Act are to be explored. The Electoral Commission has the primary mandate to deliver all elections, but all the State agencies including its employees are to stand in solidarity to deliver the outcome of the 2022 National General Elections by Aug 5.”

Parliament sitting likely next Tuesday: Marape

PARLIAMENT will likely sit next Tuesday following the return of writs on Friday, says Prime Minister James Marape.
He said that as of last Friday, Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai “was of the opinion that almost 50 writs” had been returned to him.
On Sunday, Marape said 58 winners had been declared in the 118-seat Parliament.
The date for the return of writs was initially scheduled for July 29 before being moved last week to Aug 12, then this week brought back to Aug 5.
“Parliament (will) possibly sit on Aug 9, next Tuesday,” Marape said.
“I was advised by the Justice secretary Eric Kwa that the previous proposed date of Aug 12 was not gazetted,” he said.
“So it is now brought forward to the fifth anniversary of the return of writs of the last parliament that falls on July 31, 2022.
“The intention to fix the date of the return of the writs is consistent with the provision of the law.
“We look on our state solicitor, Justice Department, Prime Minister’s Department, Electoral Commission and Office of Governor General to work (on it).
“So they felt that Aug 5 is much closer to July 31.
“It gives the electoral commission the ability to (complete) the majority of the counting (and) return the writs, and for him to issue the notice to the party with the highest number of elected members to give them the opportunity to form the government.”
Meanwhile Marape urged election officials and security personnel to ensure that all the writs are returned before Friday.