PPCs to coordinate security during LLG elections

Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission chief commissioner Patilias Gamato says provincial police commanders will be responsible for security coordination in the provinces for next month’s local level government elections.
Gamato said election managers would work with the PPCs, peace officers and magistrates on security arrangements.
“All costs for the police services for the elections will be borne by polie, not PNGEC,” he said.
“No security cost is appropriated for LLG security operation.”
Meanwhile, Gamato said the Electoral Commission had been working closely with the Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs after the 2017 election to implement eight provincial proclamations declared by the governor-general in 2013. He said they have gazetted all new, abolished, or merged LLGs and wards in Central, East Sepik, Western, Hela, Enga, Jiwaka, Western Highlands and Southern Highlands provinces.
Gamato said the commission has received four new proclamations since 2018. “LLGs and wards changes were declared by the governor-general in Western in July 2018 and new and abolished wards were approved by National Executive Council in January and declared by GG in February 2019,” Gamato said. “Those ward changes are still being applied to generate about 130 fresh electoral wards. These new proclamations are late in the electoral cycle, complicating the preparation of writs, rolls, and ballots in Western, Enga, Western Highlands and SHP.”