Hela election successful, Marape says

TARI-Pori MP James Marape says Hela has proved itself to the country and the world that it can hold successful elections for its three open seats and the regional seat.
He arrived in Port Moresby yesterday from Tari with Komo-Margarima MP-elect Manasseh Makiba and Koroba-Lake Kopiago MP-elect Petrus Thomas.
“Hela has come good and we just want to say thank you to our people,” he told The National. Our people responded well as we went through polling. They (critics) said it (election in Hela) would fail, it never failed.
“Ballot boxes and papers came back in, counting went on smoothly, with no love lost or any major incident.”
Marape thanked the election officials in Hela for not demanding to be paid their allowances at once, as was done in other provinces.
“They’ve done it (their work) freely,” he said.
“It really beats me when people who are already on payroll in Port Moresby, and living an easy life, are asking for allowances while backwater areas like Hela are not asking for allowances.
“Hela has done well so far and we are going to the final stages with the elimination rounds for the Governor’s seat.”