Samarai _ Murua by-election polling deffered

Polling for the vacant Samarai-Murua seat which was scheduled to begin today has been postponed and deferred to Monday the 23rd of April, due to the delay in election materials arriving in Alotau.

The first load of ballot boxes and election materials have just reached Alotau this afternoon, and the next load of election materials are scheduled to arrive later this evening, with the Electoral office in Alotau currently busy with unpacking and preparation for the next stage of the journey to the 4 LLG’s of the Samarai-Murua Electorate.

This was the confirmation from Provincial Police Commander (PPC) for Milne Bay Superintendent Joseph Morehari who also revealed that his men have not been deployed to the Samarai-Murua Electorate.

“I have taken in the costs and logistics for security and support to be carried out by the Milne Bay police and have sent invoices to the Electoral Commission, and as yet my men have not been deployed to the electorate, we are willing and ready to provide security and support for the By-election we are just awaiting payment from the Electoral commission in which the retuning officer for Milne Bay Dadu daga has confirmed will be done this Monday on the 23rd of April”, said PPC Morehari.

PPC Morehari further stated that logistically it would take two to three hours by air courtesy of PNG Air to transport the election materials from Alotau however by sea it would take two to three days and he anticipates the polling to start a day later on the 24th of April 2016.

A total of 12 candidates have put their name up to contest the Samari Murua Bi-Election including one female and former ousted member Gordon Wesley who was ousted through the court of disputed returns. PNGFM / PNG Today