Peaceful start to Jiwaka polls

THE new Jiwaka province began polling peacefully yesterday.
The Jiwakans went into the polls in an orderly manner to elect their leaders.
People did not fight over ballot boxes and papers like in past national elections.
The people cooperated with polling officials and unarmed security personnel. They stayed away from the polling area and walked in one by one to collect their ballot papers and vote when their names were called.
Starting from the border of Chimbu to the border of Western Highlands, the people were relaxed, without anybody issuing threats or intimidating voters.
Provincial police commander Supt Simon Nigi commended the people for showing maturity and understanding.
Nigi said they had expected election-related problems in Jiwaka yesterday but so far everything was peaceful.
He said after so many pre-election awareness carried out in the province, the people had got the message and displayed that when they went to the polls
yesterday.
He said their cooperation made it easier for polling teams to complete polling in North and South Waghi electorates on time
yesterday.
He said polling in Jimi district had been delayed because of its remoteness, with polling teams and security personnel being airlifted by helicopters and dropped off at their locations.
So far 118 polling teams were engaged in polling yesterday covering North Waghi, Anglimp-South Waghi and Jimi districts.