Villagers concerned over elections

SHIRLYN BELDEN
THE people of Kaintiba and Kotidanga districts in Gulf fear they may miss voting in the national election because their names have not been registered in the common roll.
Sam Wenive from Kaintiba said no Electoral Commission official had been dispatched to their area to conduct an update and registration of names.
Wenive said there were about 8,000 eligible voters in both districts who had not registered.
The people claimed that the electoral office in Kerema was closed and the provincial electoral manager Tore Poevare is in Port Moresby.
Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen has asked his workers to remain loyal to their assigned tasks and perform their duties.  
He said “the only priority activity outstanding is the enrolment of eligible voters and his workers are urged to perform diligently and honestly to deliver the national election successfully”.  
Wenive said the exercise was only carried out in Kerema town and nearby areas excluding the villages of east and west Kerema. 
The people are now demanding to know how much was allocated for the exercise in Gulf and why they were not included in the exercise.
The commissioner could not clarify that.
The people say they had been denied their right to vote.
Kaintiba and Kotidanga are located inland in Gulf and are made up of 15 and 20 wards with a population of about 18,000. 
It takes about a week to reach the districts by
walking and 15 minutes by plane. 
There is no infrastructure in Kaintiba and Kotidanga except for a Digicel tower
for communication by mobile phones and an airstrip used only once or twice a week.