The Electoral Boundaries Commission will conduct a national review of all electorates, this year.
The Electoral Commissioner, Andrew Trawen, says only this body has the power to review electoral boundaries in Papua New Guinea and neither individuals, intending candidates, the Government nor Parliament, can push this body to do so. He was responding to recent media reports of intending candidates for the recent by-elections and Local Level Government elections, proposing the splitting of their existing electorates into new ones. These electorates and provinces include, Morobe, New Ireland, West New Britain, National Capital District Provincial electorates and Gazelle, Kairuku-Hiri and Ambunti-Drekikir Open electorates. Trawen says, the last 38 years population increase, has raised concern at the national, provincial and L-L-G levels, regarding service delivery, equitable distribution of wealth and fair political representation. He says, there is therefore need for more Open and Provincial Electorates, which the Boundaries Commission will have to review and recommend to Parliament for determination. He says, Parliament last approved the 89 Open and 20 Provincial Electorates in February 1977, whose boundaries have not changed since reviews were conducted in 1981, 85-86, 91 and 2005. Mr. Trawen expressed disappointment at the rejection of the Commission's recommendations then, adding, there is now much pressure from electorates and provinces, for changes to their current boundaries based on ethnic, cultural and traditional affiliations. Just in 2011, Parliament determined and accepted the Electoral Boundaries Commission Report on Hela and Jiwaka provinces, enabling the people to vote for their political representatives in 2012. NBC Comments are closed.
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