Election Officials sidelined, Voting in NCD to go ahead as planned

The two Election Officials implicated in election related fraud in Port Moresby were sidelined yesterday and  two other new officers were appointed by the PNGEC. According to Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato, polling in NCD will go ahead on Friday as planned despite changes in the seniors official positions 

He has appointed veteran officer Alwin Jimmy as NCD election manager and Bale Kavanamur as assistant election manager, replacing Terence Hetinu and Roslyn Tabogani respectively as well as a presiding officer who had money and ballot papers in their possession.

Mr Gamato said it was now a police matter and for the law to decide their fate.

“Because I want to restore confidence and trust so when you appoint new people with integrity and experience, I think they can manage this election together with other returning officers, assistant returning officers and polling officers’ work towards counting,” he said yesterday.

Polling in Port Moresby was deferred to Friday  after a strike by polling staff for non-payment of allowances, coupled with the discovery of suspect documents and large sums of money on the NCD election manager and assistant election manager.