PM wants ROs from Govt

Main Stories, Uncategorized

PRIME Minister James Marape wants the Electoral Commissioner to pick returning officers and assistant returning officers from the public service and the church.
He said this when appealing to PNG electoral commission workers to uphold the integrity of the commission during their processing of the general election.
Marape was speaking yesterday following a returning officer’s sentencing by Justice Theresa Berrigan to seven years’ jail for “corruptly receiving K184,300 to influence the outcome of the elections for a National Capital District seat in the 2017 election” as reported in yesterday’s The National.
He said all returning officers, assistant returning officers, presiding officers, counting officials and security personnel must at all times do their jobs and conduct themselves with the highest level of integrity, dignity and decorum from the start to the finish of this year’s general election.
“I appeal to them to take their tasks very seriously,” he said.
“This is not about allowances that you are receiving or the possibility of bribery that you might be offered.
“These is about country first.
“This is about the important task that you have in protecting the sanctity of the electoral process that the people are given once in every five years, which is their Constitutional right.
“Today’s (yesterday’s) headline is a reminder that election offence is punishable.
“We see one former returning officer being jailed for seven years.
“Under my watch, I intend to support and promote the integrity of the elections and their processes.
“My Government is making the money available to support a free and fair elections.
“We want the 2022 general election to be safe and fair.
“We have invited Transparency International and observers into the steering committee for the election planning and so everyone is aware of the prevailing circumstances in which the election is held right around the country.
“I am recommending strongly to the Electoral Commissioner to pick good people for the positions of returning officers and assistant returning officers to be public servants and church workers.
“Church workers are accountable to God and the public servants are accountable to the Government.”
Marape said many election-related petitions did end up in the Court of Disputed Returns and so those engaging in unscrupulous activities do stand a higher chance of getting caught and punished.
“It is time we eliminate this from the system and allow our people to cast their vote for the leader of their choice,” he said.
“It is their Constitutional right and it is the Electoral Commission’s duty to ensure that this right is translated into a vote.
“Hold yourself in good standing as we support the Electoral Commissioner deliver a safe and fair elections for 2022.”


Governor Parkop shows ABG delegation city programmes
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop leading a female parliamentary delegation from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville at Parliament in Port Moresby recently. – Picture supplied

WOMEN’S rights advocate and National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop recently hosted a lunch meeting in Parliament with a visiting women’s delegation from the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB).
The delegation was led by ABG deputy speaker Therese Kaeravara and her counterpart, North Bougainville women’s representative Amanda Masono.
The meeting was also attended by Active City Development programme (ACDP) director Fazilah Bazari, PNG Women’s Council representative Dorothy Tekwie, first secretary to Governor Parkop’s office Immaculate Javia and Beatrice Taleu of United Nations Development Programme.
ACDP shared important information and strategies with the delegation on how to mobilise and make womenfolk and youths be health conscious and take personal responsibility for their behavioural choices in life.
Drawing from the success of ACDP in the city, Parkop urged the women leaders not only to use sports but initiate other activities and programmes that were non-competitive, accessible and inclusive. Thanking Parkop for his continuous advocacy in the space of female rights, Kaeravara said she was pleased with the outcome of the meeting.
She said the purpose of her meeting was to draw lessons from initiatives Parkop championed in mobilising youth and women in the city.


Police warning election troublemakers

POLICE are warning the public that anyone found stirring trouble throughout the general election campaign will be arrested and charged immediately.
Morobe commander Superintendent Jacob Singura said Wau, Bulolo, Tewae-Siassi and Finschhafen had been identified as the hotspots in the province.
“These are districts with a history of fighting, killing and disturbances, so an advance party will be deployed to conduct awareness,” he said.
“If we receive any information on illegal possession of firearms, we will act immediately.
“The province has sorted out man-power for deployment and we are ready for election operations.
“We have sorted out the manpower problems with having additional 70 soldiers from PNG Defence Force and 20 from the Buimo Correction Services to look after key Government installations.”
Meanwhile, Assistant Police Commissioner Northern Command Peter Guinness appealed to the people to help ensure a free, fair and safe electoral process for this year’s general election.
“Policemen, soldiers and prison wardens will be helping the Electoral Commission to run the elections. They are not here to fight with you. So, work with them to see the completion of a successful election,” Guinness said, adding that Morobe police was given a K3 million funding from the provincial government towards security operations for this year’s election.


Do you want to be jailed for life, Marape asks

PRIME Minister James Marape has reminded Papua New Guineans that life imprisonment is now the maximum penalty for illegal use and ownership of firearms.
“The Firearms Amendment Bill 2022 was tabled and passed in Parliament recently,” Marape said.
“It was unanimously supported by MPs.”
Life imprisonment is now the maximum penalty for:

  • MANUFACTURING of homemade guns;
  • ILLEGAL ownership and possession of firearms;
  • ILLEGAL possession and use of firearms;
  • ILLEGAL possession of prohibited firearms; and,
  • OWNERSHIP and possession of machine guns.

Lesser penalties are a fine not exceeding K100,000 and a prison term not exceeding 50 years; and a fine not exceeding K50,000 and a prison term not exceeding 20 years.
Marape said the country had had enough of illegal firearm issues, including in 2017 general election when there were several gun-related deaths.
“There will be zero tolerance this time,” he said.
“Elections are just around the corner and candidates should tell their supporters and themselves not to have illegal guns in their possession.
“Supporters, youth leaders and others are reminded that you could be jailed for life.
“Illegal possession of guns no longer carries a maximum term of 10 or 20 years imprisonment, but life imprisonment. So I appeal to all citizens to be mindful of this.
“Is it worth spending the rest of your life in prison for having a gun and supporting your candidate?”
Marape said police would monitor hotspots where guns were likely to be used in this year’s general election.
“I encourage those in illegal possession of firearms to throw them away now, because if police will catch up with you, and you will spend the rest of your lives in prison,” he said.


Police get K3 million

MOROBE government has provided K3 million funding to police for the general election security operations, says police commander Superintendent Jacob Singura. The funds would cater for logistical support as well as allowances for additional manpower by the Correctional Services, PNG Defence Force and police mobile squad.