Pomio against deferral

RURAL dwellers in Pomio do not understand why a few members of parliament want the general election deferred, a returning officer says.
Pomio returning officer Nyros Aume said many rural areas had worked hard to get their preliminary rolls ready.
Aume said the district supported Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen’s position that the election should go ahead as scheduled.
He said Pomio district in East New Britain province had no major roads and only minor roads running south of Kokopo and near Pomio.
He said people in the inland valleys of Nutuve and Leli were very isolated.
But electoral officers had worked tirelessly in the past months to cover the five local level governments – inland Pomio, East Pomio, Melkoi Rural, Sinivit Rural and West Pomio Mamusi – for an updated electoral roll.
 “I ask those MPs to properly understand the Constitution that their five-year term will be up soon and justice can only prevail if people have fresh elections,” he said.
“Leaders must not put their self-interest first.”
Aume said the highlands region had ample time to catch up and complete their preliminary rolls.
He said East New Britain had dispatched all preliminary rolls for its second phase to Port Moresby.
Provincial election manager Terrence Hetinu said a comprehensive check of the rolls had been conducted.
“I am satisfied that ENB’s preliminary rolls are in order.”
He said during the second phase of new enrolments, Rabaul district recorded 4,465 names after recording 2,983 names in the first phase, Kokopo recorded 5,451 in the first phase and 8,336 in the second phase, Gazelle- Phase 1 with 9,774 and Phase 2 with 5,738 and Pomio recorded 6,537 in the first phase and 2,576 in the second phase.