Recounts to cost K16.45mil

IT will cost around K16.45 million to conduct the court-ordered recounts for the Kandep seat in Enga and the Hela provincial seat, Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato says.
Gamato has written to the secretaries of the Treasury and Finance departments to allocate funds.
He is also looking at conducting the recount in Port Moresby for security reason.
“We are considering the possibility of airlifting less than 10 ballot boxes from Kandep to a neutral venue in Port Moresby to do the recount,” Gamato said in a statement.
“This is to avoid a repetition of the 2009 Kandep by-election in which disgruntled supporters of certain candidates fired at the counting venue at Kandep station from the surrounding peaks.”
Gamato said while Kandep MP Alfred Manase had started proceedings in the Supreme Court to appeal the National Court decision which ordered the recount, the commission would still proceed with its preparations.
Results of the recount are to be provided to the court within seven days of its completion.
The National Court ordered that the recount be conducted within a period of 60 days.
The Electoral Commission is yet to appoint a returning officer and assistant returning officer, plus a date to conduct the recount.
Justice Collin Makail in the National Court in Waigani last week ordered the recount after upholding the election petition filed by former Kandep MP Don Polye on grounds of errors and omissions and illegal practice.
Manase urged the people to respect the law.
“The court proceedings will not affect the day to day lives of the people of Kandep,” he said.