"The Law has been breached, conduct of polling and the whole process of the election was unlawful and we as candidates of the 3 seats of NCD have all the evidence." This is from one of the Moresby North West candidates Mr Issac Lupari during a recent media conference in the city this week. Mr Lupari said all candidates have agreed on 3 points to go by ; 1) All candidates have agreed to engage a lawyer to do a thorough check on the whole process of this election, and the lawyer will put a stop to all the counting process now because all the candidates have enough evidence to stop the counting. 2) All candidates to petition Electoral Commissioner to declare this a fail election and call for a new election. 3)They will provide all evidence to police to to do full investigation into this election because police has the power to conduct investigations. Mr Lupari added there are allegations of electoral officials taking in bribes and causing so much foul play from the polling place right through to the counting room and a full investigation is needed to be conducted. "Until then, we can rest assured that we have elected a good leader in the right process of election."

Polling in Simbu Province was quiet and smooth with no disturbance. Simbu Election Manager Mr Tom Sine said most ballot boxes from all the districts have being brought in for counting already. However, ballot box from the isolated part of Gumini District, and ballot boxes from Nomane and Karimui in the Sol-Nomane Karimui district have not being brought in yet due to bad weather. Mr Sine said if weather is good later on during the day then chopper will be sent to retrieve the ballot boxes so hopefully counting can start tomorrow. 

The 5-day polling period for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville will kick start tomorrow, Wednesday 06th July. AROB Election Manager Justine Pantumari said Autonomous Region was suppose to start their polling on Monday, however they had to postponed because it was a public holiday in the regions calendar. Monday was Remembrance Day for French Admiral and Explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville (1729-1811) who was the first Explorer to discover the island of Bougainville. Mr Pantumari said a thorough checklist of the materials were done and Returning Officers and Assisting Returning Officers were all dispatched with their materials to their respective regions, North, South and Central regions of Bougainville to prepare for polling. “The Autonomous Region of Bougainville will be going to the polls on Wednesday with 128 polling teams on the ground ready to get things rolling,’ said Mr Pantumari. “Polling will start around 8am and will finish at 6pm in the afternoon, this will be the same for Thursday and Friday,” said Mr Pantumari. Mr Pantumari clarifies that there won't be any polling on the weekend. “Monday 11th June they will return for the 4th day of polling and Tuesday 12th June will be the last day, whereby all polling should stop at midday," said Mr Pantumari. Picture courtesy: Its Only in Bougainville FB page 

"We are voting for road access into Mt Bosavi region," said Mr Andrew Awabi, who is the Chairman for Mt Bosavi Sustainable Agriculture Development Inc. For decades and generations there has never being a road access into the Mt Bosavi region and the people of Mt Bosavi have being cut off from the rest of the country. “Mt Bosavi lies between four (4) provinces, part of it towards the Western Province side, another part to the Gulf side, other side toward the Hela Province and the other part towards the Southern Highlands Province, however it is sad to see no road access from any of those provinces into Mt Bosavi,” said Mr Awabi. The people of Bosavi have being missing out on many development and service initiatives and they have being struggling for years, especially mothers and children. There is no proper education services, no proper health services and other government services have being absent in the area and the people are hoping that this election will be different and this time they will not miss out on any government services. “We are voting for road access into Mt Bosavi, we want to travel on a vehicle and our kids need to see what a vehicle looks like in reality, our mothers need to access better health services especially during labour,” said Mr Awabi. “We sometimes travel by MAF and get basic education and health supplies and other supplies, however this has stopped after our airstrip was shut down because of the lack of maintenance and for years now we are walking the jungles of Bosavi to get to the nearest province,” he stated. Mr Awabi mentioned that, to travel from Southern Highlands Province into Mt Bosavi, they catch bus down to Waro in Mendi and from there they walk through the jungle, cross the Kikori River and spend about a week walking and sleeping in the jungle before reaching Mt Bosavi. He also stated that to come into Mt Bosavi from Western Province is quit closer because you only spend up to 3 days to walk to reach Mt Bosavi. “We cannot continue to walk, we need road access so that basic services can reach us and we can send our kids to better schools and get better health services outside and most importantly find opportunities to be economically independent in terms of selling our produces,” Mr Awabi said. Mr Awabi also highlighted that, the people of Mt Bosavi are hopeful that come next general election, the Electoral Boundaries Commission can make Mt Bosavi an electorate of its own so that they can elect a leader from their own area who is fully aware of the situations faced by the people and can represent them on the floor of parliament. He also stated that they would prefer to come under Western Province as most of their customs, traditions and lifestyle is similar to Western Province and it’s much closer to Mt Bosavi. “For now we can only be hopeful that whoever is elected into parliament will make a road link from Mt Bosavi into the nearest province, because road access is our biggest need. If we have road access all other services can easily follow”, he said.

Election materials for Simbu province have already arrived in the province. “Ballot boxes and ballot papers have arrived last week in the province under heavy supervision and escort by police”, said Simbu Provincial Election Manager Mr Tom Sine. Mr Sine further stated that despite getting all election materials on the ground they still need few more ballot boxes and have requested for them and are hopeful some more ballot boxes will arrive in Simbu by next week. “By next week I will detail how many ballot boxes and ballot papers will be distributed to each districts,” he said. Trainings for the Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers of each electorate in Simbu Province have being completed, said Mr Sine. The trainings were done last week and the AROs and ROs are now ready for polling. Mr Sine added that preparations for polling are running smoothly with polling sites all marked and set and Simbu Province will go to the polls on the 15th of July.

Nine (9) mile cemetery outside Port Moresby city is about full to its capacity, but sadly relatives of the dead continue bring their loved ones in the hope of giving them a decent resting place in what is already an overcrowded cemetery. Financial difficulties and high costs involved in the repatriation of the dead back to their home provinces is one sad reality that determines the final resting place for their loved ones, but one candidates has raised his hand to support the struggling families in the city if given a chance to be their leader when the country goes to the polls. [caption id="attachment_22959" align="aligncenter" width="960"] NCD Regional candidate Ben Dangima (left) with Liberal Party leader John Pundari (right).[/caption] "Everyone is racing to grab a piece of the land at the famous 9 mile cemetery and very soon we will have nowhere else to bury the dead," said Ben Dangima , a Liberal Party Candidate currently vying for NCD Regional seat. Mr. Dangima said, for one to take a dead body back home is a very expensive exercise, and it is sad to see that we still have mass burials from time to time all because family members do not have the money to buy coffins and burial space. He said one of his policies is to help families repatriate dead bodies from Port Moresby back to their homes. “Not every family has the luxury to repatriate their dead relative back to their homes, but when I get into power we will put this policy in place and I will make it mandatory to help every family send their dead loved ones home,” said Mr. Dangima. [caption id="attachment_22961" align="aligncenter" width="578"] Candidate Ben Dangima speaking with the media[/caption] “I want us to do away with 'haus krai's' because it’s a very expensive exercise, and we cannot spend all our savings and start from scratch again.” Mr Dangima said when he becomes the NCD Governor, he will see to it that NCD will buy 22 ambulances for each provinces which will be stationed at every airport to transport the caskets from the airport home to the village. “When someone dies, you come to our NCD office show us the Corona papers, and we take it from there, from the morgue all the way to your home province and village all in a space  of one week,” said Mr Dangima. “NCD will pay for all the expenses including the airfares of a guardian to travel with the body, while the other expenses for the traditional haus krai and other obligations is yours to take care of but the dead body’s expenses are NCD’s to take care of.’’ He said the monies to meet the expenses will come out of the public purse from PSIP, DSIP and GST funds which belongs to the people. Mr Dangima reiterated that there is no more space left at the nine (9) mile cemetery and its time now to send bodies back home. "We want to develop the city and with more settlements popping up around the cemetery, area there is no more space to expand the cemetery.

The country’s economy has grown by K30 billion in the last three years, despite having to go through a pandemic, said Pangu Pati leader and Prime Minister James Marape. Speaking at a political rally in Port Moresby this week, PM Marape stated that the World Bank had announced that the country’s economy will hit K109 billion by the end of this year. Marape elaborated that despite being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic over the last 3 and half hard years, his government used an economic tool “Deficit Budget Financing Strategy” to keep the country’s economy running. Marape said over the last eight (8) years of People's National Congress Party (PNC) led government, under Peter O’Neil when PNG LNG was flowing in 2014 and the people of this country was suppose to be okay, Peter grew the country's economy by K36 million with much more high outstanding loans to pay. “When I became the Prime Minister the country’s economy grew by K30 billion in just 3 years.” He said he is ready to challenge Peter O’Neil to a debate, to bring any 3 years of his time as Prime Minster and compare with his 3 years of developments and the status of the economy. “Mi no kanaka man mi ranim country, maski papa blong me no skul man, mi skul na kisim save na mi laik ranim country long honest way, na rausim kantri long han blong ol greedy man.” Marape further stressed that under the Pangu-led governments short tenure, they have built over 150 roads throughout the country, whilst Peter O’Neil was building roads in Port Moresby and Mt Hagen only over their eight years. He also highlighted that Pangu had to come in and inject K140 million to fund the Lae roads which the O’Neil government proposed but never funded it. “The last three and the half years were really hard years because our economy was really down, it got even worst when Covid hit the country however my government was able to pull the country’s economy through and stabilize the economy with the help of all the coalition partners.” He reiterated that Pangu will continue strive to improve every citizen’s lives and economy through the five (5) main Pangu policies. “Andanit long Pangu Save long Rot, mipla kamapim 5pla policies tasol na mipla bai deliverim long apim economy blong kantri”, said Marape. “Under the policy we want to provide better health service and hospitals, better education services and system, better economy and better infrastructures to connect everyone in the country so we become one country and one nation.”

The National Weather Service has warned that the risk of a possible drought is more likely to occur in some provinces as the dry season, which started in May, sets in until the month of September. "The country is well into the dry season which started in late May, and sadly some provinces are at risk of facing drought during this dry season,” says National Weather Services Director Mr Jimmy Gomoga. The Southern hemisphere winter sets over the country today 14th June, bringing the South Easterly winds to well established itself over the Papuan Region thus bringing Cold air from the south. The dry season has already established itself in late May and will last until September, and with the Southern Hemisphere winter setting over the country, we will be experiencing cooler nights and hot dry conditions during the day. “East and West Sepik will be experiencing drier conditions from June to August; Momase will experience dry conditions whilst New Guinea Islands Region and the rest of the country including Papuan Region will be experiencing neutral to wet condition,” said Mr Gomoga. Mr Gomoga also highlighted that during this dry season some provinces will be at risk of facing drought. “West Sepik Province, East New Britain Province, Central Province, Madang Province and Enga Province are the five provinces who are at risk of experiencing drought during this dry season.” Mr Gomoga is urging people in these 5 provinces to start thinking of storing up drinking water and turn to alternate crops for survival this month and next month in case the drought gets worse. “East New Britain is at a greater risk because they have being experiencing consistence dryness over a period of time and if they are hit by drought then the people will be facing the worst so they need to be prepared”, said Mr Gomoga. He also urges everyone to be very informed about the weather conditions for this month and next month so you can prepare yourself for the worst.

44 candidates have so far nominated to contest the open seat of Salt-Nomane Karamui district in Simbu Province. Amongst the nominated candidates is the current MP Mr Geoffrey Kama, who nominated last week Thursday at the Egga Nomination Centre. Returning Officer Mr Andrew Awi has confirmed this figure and stated also that amongst these 44 candidates only one female is running this race, Ms. Bomai Gii Wei. Also running for this National General Election is one of the youngest contestants, 29 year old Mr Guma Kumulgau Kaire from Kamagaulin clan in Kilau village.

As the country heads into a slow start to nominations that opened at 8am this morning, Prime Minister and Pangu Pati Leader James Marape challenged all contesting candidates in the 2022 National General Elections to put the interest of the country and its people at heart. "To contest is not about a tribe against a tribe, or one big man against another nor is it a challenge against how much wealth you have to contest against another person." Marape said, “Leaders who are elected into office in the first instance and leaders appointed into public office in the second instance, have a greater task of harnessing a better future for our children and its a must to be upon every same thinking Papua New Guinean.” PM James Marape said this at the officially launching of a new political party ‘’Advanced PNG Party” recently. He said political parties are institutions and vehicles that must be used to ensure changes within the country are materialized through our public policies, legislative framework and change to the country in actual tangible framework. And launching of a new political party is always welcomed. “Parties are institutions of the state, they are institutions of our people, parties are meant to drive ideologies to achieve certain outcomes, and those certain outcomes must be for the betterment of our people,” said Marape. He also stated that whilst Pangu Pati is leading the “Connect PNG drive”, it is a policy that is owned by today’s generation of leaders who come from all over the country. “The journey to building our country for the better, reaching the unreached, connecting the unconnected, touching the untouched and remembering the forgotten, those who have being left on the byways and sideways, the tasks belongs to present day present day Papua New Guinean Leaders”. Marape is challenging all to not have bad motive or selfish motives when contesting, he reiterated that this country must be rich with alternate leadership with experience in our midst so that together we keep ourselves in check and balance so that accountability and public policy interest matures to the best for our people.

Member for Gumine District, Mr Nick Kuman launched his political party called Advance PNG Party recently at the Hilton Hotel. After 15 years in the parliament representing the people of Gumine District and holding ministerial portfolios, Founder and Party Leader , Mr Nick Kuman said he decided to become a back bencher for the first time in his political career 13 months ago, and that was when the project to create a political party started. “I was just a team leader, but there are people like the president of the Party, Mr Tom Sirae Mc Gregor and party Secretary Joe Degemba , Mr G. Jnr Wau and others who came together and worked together to create this political landscape in the country and that is how Advance PNG Party became an entity and was registered on the 14th April 2022,”said Founder and Party Leader Mr Kuman. Mr. Kuman stated that "this party is not to change the game we play in this country; however it is to ensure that we enhance how the politics are played in the country." Kuman also highlighted the Advance PNG Party Policy platform; 1. Broad – based Economy 2. Integral Infrastructure platform 3. Universal Education and Health 4. Improve Law and Order 5. Good Governance and Accountability Mr Kuman stressed that all Papua New Guineans must be patriotic about PNG, to ensure that Papua New Guineans play an active role to ensure that this country grows. “Papua New Guineans must become a partner in the development of this country and that is what Advance PNG Party believes in,” said Mr Kuman. He also announced a total of 35 candidates who have been endorsed by the party and will be running under the party. Out of the 35 intending candidates only one is a female candidate. Mr Kuman appeals to all the young people in the country to take an active part in politics, to speak up and to ensure that the government of the day does its job and Advance PNG Party believes that young people now can contribute to a better future.

Kwikila Health Centre in Rigo District, Central Province has been without medical supplies for the last four months. Sister In-charge Sister Anna Atop said there is no basic medicine like Amoxicillin or even Panadol at the health centre. As well as these, Sister Anna said there is no injection and medicine for children as well as for adults as supplies ran out 4 months ago. For the last 4 months, the health centre has been doing examination only and sending patients away with prescriptions to purchase medicines elsewhere. “It’s really sad when we have to send the patients away especially the children.” “We cannot continue like this because it is a very difficult time and not everyone in the village has the funds to spend at a pharmacy,” said Sister Anna. She is now calling on the Rigo District Health Authority and the Central Provincial Health Authority to look into this matter and fast track medical supplies for the health centre as soon as possible.