PM wants safe, fair general election in 2022

PRIME Minister James Marape says the election steering committee will be summoned to give a report on details of the cost to run next year’s national election.
“My party (Pangu) has been accused of running the election,” he said. “I want a safe and fair election in 2022.
“We would like to make election costs conscious but at the same time without compromising the integrity of the elections.
“K400 million may be the cost, however, I have summoned the election steering committee on details of the cost, and on Tuesday, I will be sitting with the committee which includes the electoral commissioner.
“I want to make the election planning a bi-partisan approach which includes Opposition, Government and organisations that are community advocates to get them into the election steering process for a fair, better elections. I have been accused of Pangu party hijacking the election process so I want everyone to know what is happening.”
The writs for the general election will be issued on April 24 for the election of 111 members of the 11th Parliament.
The biggest worry for acting Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai right now is getting the K463 million needed to update the common roll and other preparatory work.
Sinai said his office had made a submission for K70 million to the Treasury Department for the electoral roll update.
It is awaiting the fund.
Sinai said they had not included the cost of security operations in the K463 million.
“The security operation budget will be separate,” he said.
“We have already held our first meeting with the police on the security operation plan.”