Opposition Leader Douglas Tomuriesa said he is disappointed and embarrassed over the way His Holiness Pope Francis was treated by Prime Minister James Marape over the last three-days during the Papal visit, and the lack of courtesy and respect shown by the Prime Minister. He said the Prime Minister continuously declares PNG as a ‘Christian country’ and prides himself on being a religious individual but he was surprised when the Pope was continuously snubbed by the PM over the weekend since the Pope’s arrival on Friday. “The Pope is the head of the Catholic church, the largest Christian church in the world and he is also a head of state. “PNG not only being a Christian country, but a country that prides itself as a ‘friend to all, enemy to none’, the PM should be according the Pope with the highest level of respect,” Tomuriesa said. The Opposition Leader pointed out that on Friday, the Prime Minister did not welcome the Pope at the airport, a tradition he had accorded to many othe...
By CLARISSA MOI ATTORNEY-General Dr Eric Kwa has filed a special reference in the Supreme Court to seek clarification on whether people convicted by a competent court can contest the General Election. Solicitor-General Tauvasa Tanuvasa said yesterday that the special reference was filed as a result of concerns raised by the public. “The attorney-general is concerned that there are interested parties or persons out there who might be standing for elections, but have criminal convictions against them,” he said. “And it’s for those reasons that the attorney-general has instructed us to file the special reference to get clarification from the Supreme Court as to whether persons who are convicted by a competent court of jurisdiction are eligible to nominate or whether they are able to stand for office. “That special reference was filed (yesterday) in the Supreme Court. “This comes to light as a result of many concerns raised by the public as to this particular issue. “We want to make sure that the Supreme Court can help us clarify this issue before or even during the election. “Those who fall in that category should then be mindful about whether they should stand for elections. The people demand clarification on this issue.” Tauvasa his office would be serving the reference on other persons who came under that section of the Constitution. “We want to serve the reference so if they are interested, then they can apply to intervene in the reference.” Tauvasa said the matter would be mentioned in court on Tuesday for directions hearing. He also noted that the Supreme Court clarification would also assist the electoral commissioner in his work to make decisions regarding people who fell in that category. Tauvasa said it also raised other issues with regards to whether someone cleared by the power of mercy committee was also cleared of conviction. “Because conviction is on record and, therefore, is a matter of fact,” he said. “Whether those people who go to the power of mercy committee and were cleared are even eligible to stand for election?” Tauvasa said the power of mercy did not quite clean the conviction. “All it does is provides mercy under section 103 of the Constitution,” he said. “So, this special reference is trying to deal with the issue generally, so that all persons know where they stand in terms of elections.”
Province completes displaying 2019 rolls
THE Western Highlands electoral office has completed displaying the 2019 rolls and updated and filled form 11 for those who do not have their names, provincial election manager Philip Telape says. Telape said his team had visited and completed the 316 wards and 11 local level governments and displayed the rolls. He said they were working on quality checks to make sure whatever that was collected is fitted before sending them to Port Moresby for data entry. Telape said in 2017 and 2019 data was entered back in the province, but that had changed as everything else, including information are sent to Port Moresby. “After doing this quality check, we will make sure that everything is perfect,” he said. Telape said rolls would be separate for males and females in which each of the wards would be receiving two sets of books that would be displayed. He said once rolls were separated, they would create two polling booths for men and women to cast their votes. They will be having separate rolls and polling booths. Returning officers and their assistants are yet to be appointed.
Positive results for involving women: EC
Some provincial election assistant managers with Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai during International Women’s Day celebrations by PNG Women in Election Management hosted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and the Electoral Commission yesterday. – Nationalpic by LULU MARK
By LULU MARK ELECTORAL Commissioner Simon Sinai says an election is one of the most challenging jobs in the country, but the involvement of women in the management and running of the past two elections have produced positive results. Sinai said gender equality was the Government’s focus, hence heads of agencies should have strategies to empower women. “Electoral Commission recruited 20 female election assistant managers,” he said. “In that decision, we gave preferences to women to be involved in the election process at the management and decision-making level. “As a team leader and a co-colleague, I’ve seen that there are two powers in this arrangement: “l IN the instance that people come to complain over some issues the environment is calm when they see a woman addressing them; and, “l WOMEN are very observant and diligent in the processes and in the previous elections we have produced a lot of positive results. “There will be success because when you have bigger number of women conducting and managing elections you are expecting diligence, honesty, transparency and impartiality.”
Minister launches command centre, tells security forces to be neutral
POLICE Minister William Onglo says neutrality should be maintained when any of the joint security taskforce team are in the provinces during the General Election. He said this when he launched the joint security taskforce command centre at Morauta Haus in Waigani, Port Moresby, last Friday. Onglo said the country was counting down to the issue of writs on April 28. “This command centre will be receiving information on the General Election every day and will be disseminating to the mainstream media,” he said. “Sometimes, when you get into the thick of things, everyone loses control, I am pleased with the structure of the command centre and it is a coordinated structure with commissioner of police, Correctional Services (CS) commissioner and Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) commander managing the entire command and coordinating the security on the ground. “All agencies involved are funded separately, with police receiving 60 per cent of their monies, with PNGDF and CS both receiving their monies as well. “We should be delivering for the election, we are all aware of it, manpower is building up. “Let’s not compromise ourselves, let’s not join teams, candidates. “Security forces must be neutral as much as possible, if you know you may be compromised, voluntarily get out of there, everyone going in must not be comprised.”
May 5, 2021 Main Stories SIX men described, by police as dangerous, are at large after a breakout by 13 inmates from Bueibi Prison in Mendi, South Highlands, on Monday. Provincial police commander Chief Supt Martin Lakari said the six had been in custody to await their court cases for serious crimes such as murder, rape and armed robbery. One of them was from Hela implicated in the killing at Kikita village. Seven of the 13 were recaptured after the breakout. One of them was shot by prison officers. Supt Lakari said most the 13, from Hela and Southern Highlands, had been on remand. He described the six at large as dangerous and posed a risk to members of the public and business houses in Mendi. “The breakout took place in daylight and I’m questioning how it happened,” he said. “A joint operation (between prison and police officers) is in place because they are dangerous and have caused serious problems in their communities.” Supt Lakari said he was disappointed with the prison of...
March 3, 2022 Main Stories A MAN who allegedly killed his wife in Port Moresby two years ago has again been denied bail by the National Court because the charge, changed from wilful murder to murder, is still serious. Justice Teresa Berrigan ruled that although there has been a change of circumstance as regards to Bhosip Kaiwi’s case since the previous bail application, the facts of the matter had not changed. Kaiwi, of Minj village in South Waghi, Jiwaka, is charge with the murder of wife Jenelyn Kennedy in June, 2020. He applied for bail on the grounds that the charge has been changed to murder, that there had been unreasonable delay in progressing the case to trial, and that he was worried about his business and the welfare of his children, plus the risk to his personal security while in custody. Kaiwi also said he was sickly, that the cells were overcrowded and there was poor sanitation and diet in prison. The State in opposing bail argued that while the wilful murder charge ...
May 4, 2021 Main Stories By MIRIAM ZARRIGA POLICE Minister William Gogl Onglo says the country is fighting three huge battles: the fast – multiplying Covid-19 pandemic, the spiralling economy and escalating law and order issues. “Ethnic clashes in the National Capital District, the Alotau issue and tribal fighting in Kainantu are all matters that need urgent intervention,” he said. In a phone interview with The National, Onglo said the fear and anxiety within the community should be addressed. “The reality is that we now have three huge battles to fight,” Onglo said. “We have the pandemic, the economy and the escalating law and order issues. “Law and order is everyone’s business and any under-lying causes into the ethnic clashes need to be identified and resolved by the leaders of the communities. “The law has to work due to the breakdown in law and order around the country. “We are commencing preparations for the 2022 General Election and we need to resolve the dispu...
Statement by President H.E Ishmael Toroama, MHR on the Appointment of APC Anthony Wagambie Jnr as Deputy Chief of the Bougainville Police Service The Autonomous Bougainville Government does not recognize the appointment of Assistant Commissioner of Police Anthony Wagambie Jnr as Deputy Chief of Police in the Bougainville Police Service. This appointment will not be recognized by the Autonomous Bougainville Government as it is unconstitutional and breaches the Bougainville Peace Agreement. Section 26 of the Organic Law on Peace Building on Bougainville and Section 237 of the Bougainville Peace Agreement clearly stipulate that the appointment of the hierarchical officers in the Bougainville Police Service by the Commissioner of Police is based on the direct nomination of a suitable candidate by the ABG through the Bougainville Executive Council. The National Government through the Commissioner of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary ignored my government in this decision, ...
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