Waiting on new electorates

ANGLIMP-South Waghi district in Jiwaka should be looked at if we have to create new electorates based on population.
Anglimp-South Waghi has a population of 194,109 people, the highest in any district in the country based on the 2011 National Population and Housing Census.
The population is likely to have passed 200,000 after the national count was done 10 years ago.
The deferred national population census that should have been conducted next July will confirm the actual population size.
Talasea district in West New Britain has the second highest population of 189,999 persons also based on the 2011 census.
The population in Talasea is likely to have increased over the last ten years.
The former prime minister, Peter O’Neill, was asked in parliament in 2016 by former Lagaip-Porgera MP Nixon Mangape if there were any changes to be made to electoral boundaries before the general elections in 2017.
O’Neill at that time told parliament that additional electorates needed to be created to cater for the growing population.
Lagaip-Porgera in Enga is the third highly populated district with 158,873 people according to the 2011 census.
O’Neill said then that parliament should increase the electoral boundaries resulting with additional parliamentary seats as stipulated by the constitution with the increase in population growth in some of the districts.
He said the government will make funding available to the Electoral Boundaries Commission which falls under the powers of the electoral commissioner to facilitate electoral visits and submit their findings and recommendations to parliament for approval.
Nothing has been since then.
The districts that have population over 100,000 in order of numerical ranking after Anglimp-South Waghi, Talasea and Lagaip-Porgera based on the 2011 census figures are: Lae, Morobe, 148,934; Nipa-Kutubu 147,005; and Mendi-Munihu 144,629; respectively in Southern Highlands, Gazelle, East New Britain, 129,317; Kainantu, Eastern Highlands, 126,248; Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, 123,299; Kairuku-Hiri, Central Province, 121,586; Madang 110,978; Namatanai, New Ireland, 110,905; North Bougainville 109,023; Kerema, Gulf, 107,231; Goroka, Eastern Highlands, 103,396; and Bulolo, Morobe, 101,568.
Districts that have population over 90,000 people are Ijivitari in Oro with 99,762; Alotau in Milne Bay with 99,539; Komo Magarima in Hela, 96,153; and Kerowagi in Chimbu with 93,107 people.
The National Statistical Office at the time it released the results of the 2011 census, noted in its summary findings that there was significant increase in population mostly from provinces in the highlands and islands regions.
The population report says the highlands and islands regions have their annual growth rate higher than the national average of 3.1 per cent.

Peter Maime