PNG NATIONAL GENERAL ELECTIONS 2022

 

The National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.

THE VOTE IN MERSMERISING PORT MORESBY NORTH-EAST . . .

Part 1 - amazing things in Amazing Moresby!

By LOFTY

Last Monday, July 4, 2022, polling commenced in the Papua New Guinea National General Elections after a three weeks campaign period.

My name is registered in Port Moresby North-east electorate. And my family, we have been involved in our own little ways in this election.

However polling in the capital NCD was deferred by the Electoral Commission to July 6. 

Boom shakalaka, July 6 later became July 8, last Friday. 

While residents in the electorates of Moresby South and Moresby North-west went to the polls, we in Moresby North-east were informed that due to the resignation of the MNE returning officer, polling was postponed and deferred for the 3rd time to Monday, July 11.

Lofty after waiting the whole day at Gordon to vote last Friday. I went home with my greasy nose and free happy smile.

Well, I surely do hope in the bottom of my heart that I, and every other eligible voter, will awake tomorrow and finally participate in the democratic process required to exercise our right to elect a candidate of our choice to represent us in the 11th PNG National Parliament.

As has been reported all over social media, NGE22 has experienced massive challenges and failures all around the country with the most common being voters missing out because their names are not on the Common Roll.

In some instances there are not enough ballot papers for the number of voters in a particular council ward.

This has led to heightened tensions, disputes, fights to hijacking of ballot boxes, smashing of boxes, burning of ballots to attacks on electoral officers and security officers.

The general feeling is that of chaos and that the NGE22 is a complete failure. Personally, while Lofty agrees, I also feel that we the citizens must equally share the blame.

 

Maggie's son Joshua who is a scrutineer for a MNE candidate. 

We have failed ourselves miserably to hold our government and leaders accountable to fully fund and fully organise this very important national event which occurs every 5 years.

Most people also failed to register themselves. When the National Census was cancelled last year, I sensed that the update of the Common Roll for the National Elections would also fail, and it did fall flat on its face.

We are now participants in that spectacular failure.

Tomorrow, I will return to my daughter Maggie's House at Gordon Police Barracks to await my turn to vote.

My daughter Maggie (below right) works in a clothing shop in Boroko. She has missed 2 days work already. 

My nephew Jimbo cast his vote in MNW at the June Valley polling station.

But he related that when it was his turn to vote, he found out that someone had already used his name.

He was very angry. The polling official allowed him to vote after he produced his ID card.

This is not an isolated event. This fraud is happening all over the country.

MNE is a very tough electorate to tackle. Even harder to call with nearly 70 candidates including a Russian in mix. 

There are a fair number of former candidates returning to challenge incumbent John Kaupa.

As a supporter of female representation in Parliament, I am inclined towards the mama vote. Isn't it time for a revolution.

Merilution; Mamalution na Morilution.

Good luck Lofty.

This is my dearest sister Senior Sgt Janet Samar of the NCD Reserve Police. She is on election duties in Port Moresby.