KUMAN: REFORM ELECTORAL PROCESS

PNG Education Minister. Nick Kuman

By: Rose Amos 

Several members of Parliament are seriously calling on the PNG Electoral Commission to reform the current election processes, like campaigns and counting system now, to ensure a free, fair and safe elections in future.Amongst them is the Education Minister, Nick Kuman who made the call during Grievance Debate in Parliament, last week.

Mr. Kuman said, the current election process is not transparent, citing the rising number of election petition cases, after elections, and says, an effective system needs to be established, to cut down on costly campaign and counting methods.

Kuman who is also the Guminie member said, potential leaders shy away from contesting elections, as they see these events as being for rich people only, simply because of the expenses involved.

Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Nixon Duban expressed similar concern, saying PNG Electoral Commission and the Constitutional Law Reform Commission should review the country's election laws, as there are loopholes in current laws, which he described as weak.

Meanwhile, Electoral Commissioner Andraw Trawen in a media report said it is important the commission prepare for 2017 election now, however funding is one issue.

Trawen highlighted that the commission had asked for 49 million kina as development budget to fund electoral reform programmes, which included bio-metrics system this year, but unfortunately funding was not made available in this year's budge.

NBC News