Police waiting for funds

POLICE are still waiting for funding for the Autonomous Bougainville Government election security operations, Bougainville police commander Deputy Commissioner (DCP) Francis Tokura says.
“I need about K5 million to conduct security operations in the 44 constituencies during the polling and counting period,” he said.
“I’m still waiting for the Bougainville Electoral Commission to provide me these funds.
“Right now we are manning the airport at Buka and the PNG-Solomon Island border in South Bougainville as part of the Covid-19 operations. But so far since the nominations, there have been no disturbances.”
DCP Tokura said they had 242 regular officers and 350 community ancillary police officers engaged in the Bougainville police service.
“And (today) we are expecting a big crowd in Buka town.
“There will be a rally at Bel Isi Park for the 25 ABG presidential candidates,”he said.
“It will be live on National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) and New Dawn FM.
“These candidates will be announcing their respective polices and at the same time there will be a rally at Kokopau for candidates of the Selau/Suir constituency in North Bougainville to have a rally to also announce their respective polices and why they are contesting the elections.”
Earlier on, Bougainville electoral commissioner George Manu assured that the commission would provide funds for the security operations during the ABG elections.
He also said 439 candidates had been nominated to contest various ABG seats for presidency, women’s regional representatives (for south, central and northern regions), ex-combatants regional representatives and 44 constituencies.
Campaigning has started and would end on Aug 11. Polling starts on Aug 12 and ends on Sept 1.
Counting starts on Sept 2 and ends on Sept 14.
The writs will be returned to the governor-general in Port Moresby on Sept 15.