WNB votes despite wet weather

 SOME polling teams in West New Britain are still struggling to reach remote areas in the province.

This is due to the wet weather accompanied by strong winds currently experienced in the province and throughout the islands region.

Provincial election coordinator Alois Waluka said in Kimbe yesterday that polling was progressing well despite this and other minor problems.

He said it was quite difficult to transport polling security personnel from Talasea to Gloucestar and Kandrian by boat due to the bad weather.

He added that bad weather currently experienced in south coast Kandrian could not permit them to move to Kandrian.

Waluka said a presiding officer at Kavien Coastal died on Monday but the cause of his death was unknown at this stage.

He said all funeral expenses had been met and polling had resumed in the area.

He said counting for ward councillors in some parts of the province started yesterday.

It is understood that several declarations of ward councillors have been made but attempts to get names of winning candidates yesterday from Waluka and provincial returning officer Emily Siamoli were unsuccessful.

Waluka said he would release the names of declared candidates this morning as he was out visiting polling areas since yesterday morning.

He said one councillor had been declared in East Nakanai and two others in Central Nakanai, which were  new local level governments in the province.