Western asks for new electorate

WESTERN will be given fair consideration like other provinces for the creation of a new electorate, Prime Minister James Marape says.
In response to Western Governor Toboi Yoto’s request for a new electorate in his province, Marape said there were policies and guidelines to determine the creation of a new electorate, depending on the population and land size.
He said the boundaries commission had already been given the go-ahead to begin work.
“Cabinet has approved the Electoral Boundaries Commission get to work,” he said.
“I know that time is short to make substantial reviews for the balance of this parliament term.
“We now have only going under 12 months before writs are issued for the elections.
“But, none-the-less, the electoral boundaries committee has already been set up.
“It’s an independent committee where the prime minister has no direct control on.
“But there is a policy and guide on how new electorates will be formed.
“We have some work that is currently in our government systems which have recommended that some electorates will be split but I want to tell the governor that his province will have a fair hearing just like every other province that may qualify population-wise or electorate size-wise.”