Sia hanging on in EHP provincial race

WITH the eliminations for the Eastern Highlands regional seat still a few days away, people in Goroka are talking about how businessman Simon Sia is just hanging in the race.
The delay is caused by counting officials and compounded by more than 25 candidates who are still to undergo the elimination processes.
Candidate and naturalised citizen Sia has been the much talked about issue on the streets of Goroka.
Many people in the province who have witnessed Sia’s generosity are wondering why people in the province have snubbed a “people’s man”.
Sia is now sixth in the race after being relegated from fourth spot during the counting of primary votes.
As of yesterday morning, People’s Movement for Change Party candidate Samuel Si-i was leading with 46,910 votes, followed by former governor and People’s National Congress candidate Peti Lafanama on 38,823 and independent Sir Barry Holloway third with 37,373.
T.H.E Party’s Julie Soso was on 37,222 and independent Moses Namagileso was fourth on 35,384 votes.
Sia was sixth with 30,565, while incumbent governor and United Resource Party’s Malcolm Kela-Smith was on 23,145 votes.
A winner is expected to be declared by this afternoon or tomorrow.
Sia, owner of the Goroka-based Asia Pacific Investments Ltd (API), is highly regarded for his philanthropic work.
API is the parent company of Bintangor Trading, the sponsor of champion Digicel Rugby League Digicel Cup team Bintangor Goroka Lahanis.
Lufai Thomas from Daulo said Sia was one person who stood out in the province all year for his charitable work.
Benson Wayamo, from the Mt Michael local level government, Lufa district said; “If a person like Simon Sia can simply dish out thousands and thousands of his hard earned money freely to this province all the time, unlike other greedy businessmen, the people should simply appreciate by mandating him as their governor so he does more and better for them.”