Manam counting delayed – The National

**Scrutineers doing checks for ballot boxes from Moresby South at the Rita Flynn sports complex in Port Moresby on Monday. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI**

By LORRAINE JIMAL
WHILE counting continues for other parts of the country, Manam Island in Madang is yet to commence theirs, as they are yet to sort out counting materials, an official says.
Assistant returning officer (ARO) for Yabu community Gilbert Ruambik said the limited supply and unavailability of materials such as tablets for recording numbers, papers, makers and a generator had prolonged the counting.
“Right now we are moving around to get these things ready for the counting to start by this Friday or Saturday,” he said.
He told The National that Bogia and Yabu stations were set up for counting and all the ballot boxes from Yawar, Yabu and Almami local level governments (LLGs) were locked up in the new police cell in Bogia and Yabu stations.

Voters mainly young men challenging election officials at Twenty Toea Market polling venue in Kundiawa town to sign ballot papers for them to vote for their own candidates on Monday. – Nationalpic by ZACHERY PER

He said the ballot boxes were secured and safe, and as soon as counting materials were ready the counting would begin.
He said polling for the three LLGs concluded well though there were minor hiccups with missing names in the common roll and security.
He said for Yabu, the 15 communities ended their polling successfully last Monday.
He said the LLG comprised people on the island and the care centres on the mainland.
Eight polling stations were set up and each had polling teams to help people cast their vote.