Hanuabada closes market for counting

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
The market at Hanuabada will be closed temporarily for security reasons at the ward one counting venue for the Moresby Northwest by-election, Moresby Northwest by-election returning officer Desmond Timiyaso says. He said scrutineers and counting officers had expressed safety concerns at the Metoreia United Church Hall which was near the market.
Timiyaso said he had spoken with the village elders to have the market closed for three days. Timiyaso also expressed concern with candidates interfering with the efforts of the Electoral Commission in managing counting venues. “Candidates are questioning our efforts to decentralise the counting venue at the ward level,” he said.
Timiyaso said counting venues had been set up at ward one at Metoreia United Church Hall, Hanuabada village; ward seven at Ben Moide Club, Murray Barracks; ward eight at Sir John Guise Stadium and ward 11 at Administrative College Hall, Waigani. He said only the primary votes would be counted at the respective counting venues. “All elimination and declarations would be made at the Sir John Guise Stadium and counting would be done during the day only.”
He said election officials were managing the counting venues in a similar setup to what had been done for the Menyamya and Goroka open, and Bougainville regional by-elections. “We have seen the success rate in those by-elections and so we are now carrying out the same set up here,” Timiyaso said. “Apart from an effective, transparent and swift counting process, the setup is to reduce crowding to meet the requirements of the National Pandemic Act.” Timiyaso also expressed concern at allegations on social media of him receiving bribes from some candidates.