Trawen: Media plays important role during elections

THE right of the people to information is vital and democratic, especially in this general election period, Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen says.
“The PNG Electoral Commission recognises that the more informed the public is the better and democratic it is when it goes to the polling or to enrol for voting,” he said.
Trawen made the comment at the opening of the new media centre in Port Moresby on Tuesday.
He said it was the task of the media to provide sufficient and positive information to the people about the general election as it was their prerogative before, during and after the elections.
He said the media and the commission were placed with the task to disseminate the correct information to the public locally and internationally in the reporting of polling, counting, progressive results and other related issues.
“The provision of this media centre is an acknowledgement by the PNGEC that the media carries out a critical role in our society, ensuring wide access to information about elections,” he said. 
“We recognise that the more information we can provide you the better informed you will be, and hopefully the better informed the public will be when they enrol or go to a polling place to vote.”
The centre was funded by the British Government through the British High Commission.
The funding covered the set-up, including:
l    A media information kit to be compiled and to be made available for accredited media organisations and personnel;
l    A manager to provide management supervision and ensure the efficient running of the media centre;
l    The facilitation of processes to enable the delivery of the PNGEC Commissioner’s regular briefings.
, and,
lThe dissemination of relevant information to local and international media on progressive and final results of the election.
The media centre can be used by media personnel who wish to do research on current and previous elections in the country.
Trawen thanked the British High Commission.