Hela cancels election: Marape

 By MALUM NALU
FINANCE Minister and Tari-Pori MP James Marape says he is disappointed that the Hela provincial assembly meeting yesterday to elect an acting governor has been deferred.
He said from Tari yesterday the assembly was convened to elect an acting governor to fill in the vacancy created by the death of Governor Anderson Agiru.
Assembly members were to have voted for either Komo-Magarima MP Francis Potape or Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP Philip Undialu.
“The meeting, however, was adjourned due to the fact that other members who were not supposed to be inside the assembly were inside,” Marape said.
“This included former presidents of failed LLG elections and other nominated members of assembly.
“It was evident that the assembly clerk needs to be assisted by Department of Provincial and Local Level Government on who are members of the provincial assembly.
“We hope that the week’s adjournment will allow for the list to be finalised and I would recommend strongly to police and the assembly clerk to only allow those legally entitled to participate in the assembly process.”
Marape commended the people of Hela and Tari for being peaceful yesterday.