Security personnel gear up for general election

By ABIGAIL APINA
SECURITY personnel in the New Guinea Islands are attending the first electoral security workshop in preparation for next year’s general election.
The workshop started in Kokopo yesterday. It is organised by the PNG Electoral Commission and will run for four days.
Regional electoral manager Bura Maro said security during elections had been overlooked in both public and private sector activities.
She said it was a critical and an integral element.
Maro said electoral workers were exposed to threats by people or groups seeking to intimidate individual voters and communities.
She said the failure of staff to recognise these threats could affect them and their organisation.
The workshop would focus on the role security plays in the election process.
“In addition, understanding and interpreting threats and risks require active participation,” she said.
Maro said the module involved “hands-on” activities designed for participants to acquire rele­vant skills in providing best security measures during the elections.