Marape-Steven Govt has fallen asleep and is Not ready to deliver 2022 Election Reforms
The Deputy Leader of People’s National Congress Party, Hon. Richard Maru, MP, has expressed his shock and disappointment that the Marape Government has stopped preparations for electronic voting at the 2022 National Election that the O’Neill-Abel Government had been undertaking.
In asking the Prime Minister in Parliament Question Time to come clean on this problem,
Mr. Maru said the current government has failed to advance the initiatives that would have enabled much more free and fair elections in 2022.
“Until this government blocked the electoral reforms, the Nation had been on track for a
safe and secure electronic voting and counting process for 2022,” Mr. Maru said.
“The O’Neill-Abel Government, under Medium-Term Development Plan Number Three, specifically committed that by 2022 we would have electronic voting and counting, and this was budgeted.
“You only have to wonder why the Marape Government has stopped funding, and has
suspended the procurement process, that would have enabled full transparency in the
electoral process at the next elections.”
Mr. Maru said there are a series of steps that have to be undertaken immediately,
because failure to act now will undermine the success of the general election in 2022.
“The Government has to bring forward amendments to electoral laws so that reform and electronic voting can take place.
“Secondly, the government must review the tender for the electronic voting and counting
systems that were stopped last year. This is essential so we can move beyond the
manual system.
“They must then train the local staff to use the new systems and equipment, and do pilot
testing in one or two electorates and provinces.
“Finally, the Government must wake up and go out to update the Voter ID system and update the common roll.
“James Marape has gone to sleep and is not providing leadership, political oversight or
the drive to deliver election reforms, he simply has no idea, but Parliament must push him
to start making decisions
Mr. Maru said the Parliament must also be given a chance to decide if it will change from
the Limited Preferential Voting (LPV) System to the First Past the Post (FPTP) voting
system, as has been anticipated for some time.
“The FPTP system is easier to use when voting, particularly if the voter is not literate, and has less potential to result in disputes.
“FPTP is used around the world, particularly through the Commonwealth.
“Countries such as the United Kingdom, India, Canada, the United States and the Solomon Islands all use the First Past the Post system.
“The current Australian-style Limited Preferential Voting System is overly complicated and is the constant source of disputes and violence.”
Mr. Maru said preparations had been at a very advanced stage after a significant amount
of planning and preparations, and much of this is now lost.
“Our government had consulted with countries like India, where 800 million people vote,
and they have election results in three days.
“Papua New Guinea should be delivering world-class electronic voting and counting
processes in 2022, the technology is ready to use, but the Marape government has almost
made sure this will not be possible.
“The Prime Minister is the Minister responsible for the conduct of all elections including
the upcoming 2022 general elections.
“But he avoided answering my questions and so admitted on the floor of Parliament on
Friday that he has failed to advance these reforms that are very badly needed.
“He is blaming everything he can on this failure, he is again blaming the Coronavirus, he
is blaming the census, he is blaming the NID system, but all of this is his responsibility.
“This is all-talk and no-action from the Marape Government is undermining democratic
process and our people will pay the price again for their failures.”
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In asking the Prime Minister in Parliament Question Time to come clean on this problem,
Mr. Maru said the current government has failed to advance the initiatives that would have enabled much more free and fair elections in 2022.
“Until this government blocked the electoral reforms, the Nation had been on track for a
safe and secure electronic voting and counting process for 2022,” Mr. Maru said.
“The O’Neill-Abel Government, under Medium-Term Development Plan Number Three, specifically committed that by 2022 we would have electronic voting and counting, and this was budgeted.
“You only have to wonder why the Marape Government has stopped funding, and has
suspended the procurement process, that would have enabled full transparency in the
electoral process at the next elections.”
Mr. Maru said there are a series of steps that have to be undertaken immediately,
because failure to act now will undermine the success of the general election in 2022.
“The Government has to bring forward amendments to electoral laws so that reform and electronic voting can take place.
“Secondly, the government must review the tender for the electronic voting and counting
systems that were stopped last year. This is essential so we can move beyond the
manual system.
“They must then train the local staff to use the new systems and equipment, and do pilot
testing in one or two electorates and provinces.
“Finally, the Government must wake up and go out to update the Voter ID system and update the common roll.
“James Marape has gone to sleep and is not providing leadership, political oversight or
the drive to deliver election reforms, he simply has no idea, but Parliament must push him
to start making decisions
Mr. Maru said the Parliament must also be given a chance to decide if it will change from
the Limited Preferential Voting (LPV) System to the First Past the Post (FPTP) voting
system, as has been anticipated for some time.
“The FPTP system is easier to use when voting, particularly if the voter is not literate, and has less potential to result in disputes.
“FPTP is used around the world, particularly through the Commonwealth.
“Countries such as the United Kingdom, India, Canada, the United States and the Solomon Islands all use the First Past the Post system.
“The current Australian-style Limited Preferential Voting System is overly complicated and is the constant source of disputes and violence.”
Mr. Maru said preparations had been at a very advanced stage after a significant amount
of planning and preparations, and much of this is now lost.
“Our government had consulted with countries like India, where 800 million people vote,
and they have election results in three days.
“Papua New Guinea should be delivering world-class electronic voting and counting
processes in 2022, the technology is ready to use, but the Marape government has almost
made sure this will not be possible.
“The Prime Minister is the Minister responsible for the conduct of all elections including
the upcoming 2022 general elections.
“But he avoided answering my questions and so admitted on the floor of Parliament on
Friday that he has failed to advance these reforms that are very badly needed.
“He is blaming everything he can on this failure, he is again blaming the Coronavirus, he
is blaming the census, he is blaming the NID system, but all of this is his responsibility.
“This is all-talk and no-action from the Marape Government is undermining democratic
process and our people will pay the price again for their failures.”
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