Judge orders counting to be done at Mt Hagen

By DAPHNE WANI
The Waigani National Court yesterday ruled that the counting venue for the Southern Highlands (SHP) regional seat will be at Mt Hagen in Western Highlands.
Justice Colin Makail, pictured, made the decision after hearing an interim application by a lawyer representing candidate Sylvester Komba.
The substantive matter returns tomorrow for mention.
Justice Makail also ruled that the Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato and newly-appointed returning officer Steven Gore Kaupa  proceed with the counting declare a winner for the electorate in a reasonable time.
Justice Makail was satisfied that there were no serious security issues in Mt Hagen and to move the counting venue to Goroka would be an expensive exercise and delay the counting by another week because the ballot boxes were locked up in Mt Hagen.
He also directed that counting officials from Mendi could continue their work in Mt Hagen since they were part of the counting process.
The proceeding filed last Friday named SHP election manager David Wakias as the first defendant and  others were Gamato and  the electoral commission.
The court heard that counting in Mendi was disrupted and delayed because of interruptions by supporters of candidates and the counting had not proceeded.
Lawyer Alice Kimbu, representing Gamato and the electoral commission, submitted that Gamato had decided that the counting venue  be transferred to Goroka, Eastern Highlands.
She said counting was due to resume today in Goroka at the National Sporting Institute with the help of counting officials from Eastern Highlands.
She said counting at Kiminiga could not proceed because of funeral arrangements of people who died as a result of election trouble there.
Two police officers died in a shootout and police personnel in Mt Hagen refused to provide security for the counting.
However, Komba’s lawyer argued that there was no evidence in court and the evidence was given over the bar.
He also submitted that it was costly for the candidates and scrutineers to travel into Eastern Highlands.