Recount moved to POM

National

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says the Waigani National Court ordered recount for the Kandep Open seat will be held in Port Moresby.
“Port Moresby is the ideal venue for the judicial recount of Kandep Open seat which is one of the most volatile electorates in Papua New Guinea,” Gamato said.
Gamato also called on the Government to provide funding to enable the commission to conduct the two judicial recounts – Kandep and Hela provincial.
The commissioner explained that he had decided to move the recount for Kandep to Port Moresby for security reasons as experienced in the past during the 2009 Kandep by-election and again in the 2016 Kandep judicial recount.
“To conduct the Kandep judicial recount anywhere in the Highlands is not safe as the counting venue is easily accessible by supporters.
“The Electoral Commission wants a free and safe recount; therefore, I’m using my powers as commissioner to move the Kandep Open ballot boxes to Port Moresby.”
He pointed out that under the National Constitution, the Electoral Commission was the only mandated authority to do recounts.
“Candidates can express their views but the Electoral Commissioner and the Electoral Commission have the final say.”
Gamato appealed to supporters of sitting Kandep MP Alfred Manase and former MP Don Polye to respect the process, cooperate and make the recount incident free.
Gamato’s comments follow a letter dated July 10 written to him by the petitioner Polye objecting to Port Moresby as the venue for the Kandep recount and accusing him of siding with the incumbent MP Manase.
Gamato has consulted PNGEC lawyers and is filing contempt of court proceedings against Polye on accusations contained in his letter which was also copied to the Prime Minister James Marape and the police.