Recount expected to take longer

By GIDEON KINDIWA
THE Hela regional recount is going to take longer than expected, Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika says.
Sir Gibbs made the comments during a court proceeding yesterday where he asked Hela Governor Philip Undialu’s lawyer Goiye Gileng about how long a recount usually took.
“The recount will take about a week to complete since there’s only five or six boxes to be recounted,” Gileng said.
“I don’t think it will be one week,” Sir Gibbs said.
“It’s probably going to take more time than we think, taking into consideration the logistics, security and other factors involved.
“I’ve had previous experiences in dealing with election petition cases where recounts have been ordered.
“I know that it doesn’t usually take the amount of time they tell us it would.
“For instance, in the previous Mendi recount, Mendi wasn’t as volatile as Tari, it’s going to take more than a week.”
Gileng filed an application to vary a previous decision by Justice Joseph Yagi in the National Court ordering applications by the Electoral Commission and the petitioner Francis Potape to be heard after the court determines which state department would fund the Hela recount.
Gileng applied to vary the orders so that he would be able to file an application seeking leave to review the decision to recount.
Sir Gibbs, through the Supreme Court, granted his applicationand varied the orders by allowing Gileng to present his leave application on Friday.
The Electoral Commission’s lawyer, Alice Kimbu, said all the parties involved in the proceedings would travel to Goroka by Friday this week.
On Saturday, the National Court in Goroka would hear from Treasury secretary Dairi Vele and
Finance secretary Dr Ken Ngangan on who would fund the recount.
Kimbu said there would be no time to hear Gileng’s application.
Sir Gibbs, however, said he could hear the application on Friday.