RO expects to wrap up – The National

Moresby North-West returning officer Vincent Manukayasi and assistant returning officers talking about how to restart counting yesterday at the Public Institute of Leadership and Governance. – Nationalpic by LULU MARK

By LULU MARK
THE declaration for the Moresby North-West electorate is expected to be completed tomorrow, returning officer Vincent Manukayasi says.
Manukayasi said there was no counting on Monday at the Public Institute of Leadership and Governance (Pilag) due to security concerns following the election-related violence around the city.
He said counting resumed yesterday where the remaining ballot boxes from Ward 10 were being completed.
“There is just ward 7 to go which we will start to count today (yesterday),” he said.
“With counting today and tonight we will complete the boxes on Wednesday.
“When counting is completed we will set the absolute majority and go to quality checks and then elimination.” Manukayasi said the team was strategising on how best they could work to complete the counting before the deadline for the return of writs on Friday.
He said he was confident that counting would be completed and a declaration made before Friday.

Central winds down counting

Counting is winding down for two electorates in Central with declarations soon to be expected, says election manager Peter Malaifeope.
Malaifeope said the Kairuku Open and Hiri-Koiari seats had completed first preference counts and would move into quality checks and elimination by today.
“We had a briefing with all returning officers and their assistants last Sunday and have hoped that all counting in the province have started,” he said.
He said Goilala was the last electorate to start its first preference counts last Sunday.
Malaifeope, who is also the provincial returning officer, said the regional seat, as of yesterday, was on count 43.
“The situation in Port Moresby is under control and as per our consultation with security personnel, we should not be affected,” he said.
Malaifeope said counting was expected to be completed by Thursday.
Meanwhile, provincial police commander Supt John Midi said all makeshift shelters outside the two counting centres should not be removed.
“We have scrutineers who travelled in from Central and the makeshifts are needed more than those in the National Capital District,” he said.