Nawaeb counting starts

COUNTING for the Nawaeb open seat in the Morobe province is to begin today.
Nawaeb will be the first of the nine open electorates in the province to begin this final phase of the election process.
Markham and Tewai-Siassis have indicated that they will begin counting on Monday.
Other districts, including Lae Open are yet to confirm counting dates.
Nawaeb returning officer Jonah Mathews said counting officials and scrutineers had been briefed and any further delay would create frustration and suspicion.
“We want to move and complete the election process so that everybody can return to their normal lives,” he said.
Mathews has appealed to the people of Nawaeb to listen in on their radios for daily updates of the progress of counting.
He said the counting venue did not have enough space and it would be overcrowded if people flocked to the venue. Counting will be at the Bumbu Police Barracks recreation hall.
Mathews said disputed ballot boxes would only be set aside if a court order so instructed.
He said there were proper procedures to be followed and  must be observed.
Fifty ballot boxes from the 50 polling teams in the district would be counted.