K50mil needed for project

Electoral Commission operations director Margaret Vagi and policy director Kila Vaname looking at the Kupiano ward electoral photo-roll at Kupiano in Central. The roll was generated from the biometric registration. – Nationalpic by CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

THE Electoral Commission needs about K50 million to roll out the biometric registration project to run the national elections properly next year, acting Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai says.
“We are looking at K50 million but the national government can give us some money for us to get some work done at least,” he said.
“The electoral roll is the fundamental basis of democratic elections in PNG and the roll has always come under severe criticism for lack of credibility with stakeholders such as political parties, candidates, observers and voters not having confidence in it.
“That photo-roll was generated during the Kupiano ward by-election last October.
“With the issue and problems associated with the electoral roll, the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) has looked for new approaches to address the issues surrounding the roll and voter registration.
“Therefore, it is the Electoral Commission’s role to protect the integrity of the electoral process and ensure accurate and current voter registration has been enforced.
“People have to take ownership of the electoral roll because it is their roll.
“Citizens must work together and support the new initiatives taken by PNGEC and participate in a more transparent and democratic manner to ensure the roll and voter registration are in order.”
Sinai said it was time to fix and upgrade the voter’s details on the electoral roll.
“I urged stakeholders such as ward development committees, provincial governments, districts administrators and relevant Government departments to support this course.”