Trawen: Elections achieve milestone

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
ELECTORAL Commissioner Andrew Trawen says the 2012 general election is another milestone achieved in the democratic process of the country.
Speaking on the successes and mishaps during the electoral process, Trawen said they were identified and would be improved in the next general election.
He admitted the main setback was the quality of the electoral rolls experienced throughout the country.
“The main problems have been identified and will be improved for the next general election. The electoral roll being the main one, with works and options in place to improve that,” he said.
He said the general outcome was successful. 
He said 105 election writs had been returned to Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio on Wednesday at Government House, in Port Moresby.
Trawen returned 89 writs for the open electorates and 16 for provincial electorates.  Those writs were from the 17 declared provinces.
The remaining five will be returned by next Wednesday as the electorates are still in their elimination process of counting.  Trawen made a run through of election figures. 
They are:
l    3,443 candidates contested;
l    1,245 endorsed party candidates;
l    97 party endorsed candidates elected;
l    2,198 independent candidates contested;
l    134 female candidates contested (101 in 2007 election);
l    Two female candidates elected;
l    65 new elected members (excluding electorates to be declared); and 
l    40 sitting MPs re-elected.
He said the new parliament would have 61% of new members, while 39% were re-elected members.
The election was budgeted for K340 million but only K180 million  was used, with aid from the Australian and New Zealand governments to implement the elections.
Trawen thanked the government, Papua New Guineans and Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom for their help in the elections.