Trawen: All set for by-election

 PREPARATIONS for the Kairiku-Hiriopen electorate by-election looks set, with polling to start on Saturday week.

Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen said election materials like ballot boxes, voting compartments, indelible ink and candidate posters were ready and ballot papers had already been printed and stored away.

He said other logistics like transport were in order and he was confident the by-election would start on time.

“A total of 152 polling officials have already been recruited to conduct polling ,with training to begin on Tuesday and Wednesday,” he said

Trawen said training of polling officials for the Mekeo local level government and Kairiku LLG would be conducted at the Bereina Council Chambers, while training for Hiri LLG and Koiari LLG would take place at Kilakila Community Hall and Laloki High School respectively. “For election security, we have received very good response from the provincial police commander, Insp Laimo Asi, who will engage 205 of his personnel to provide security during polling and counting.”

“Four field commanders will be assigned to work closely with my Assistant Returning Officers for each of the four LLGs during polling,” Trawen said.

He said the counting venue had been paid for and would be at the Papua New Guinea Investment Promotion Authority (PNGIPA) Hall at Waigani.  

The Kairiku-Hiri open will be the last of three by-elections to be completed after the Ambunti-Dreikikir open and Madang open following successful court appeals by losing candidates in the 2012 general election.