USINO-BUNDI GAMA AND KABWUM POLLING IN PROGRESS

Polling in progress in Usino Bundi in Madang and also in Kabwum, Morobe province

By Martha LOUIS

POLLING in the Usino-Bundi Gama district is going well despite a few setbacks.

Helicopters and dinghies helped get polling teams to hard-to-reach areas.

Some voters, like in Danagar and Banu, have already cast their votes.

Ballot boxes are safely locked at Walium police station. Police are doing their job, even without allowances, and extra officers have been brought in from Lae.

There was a short dispute between candidates, but police acted fast to settle it.

PPC Robert Baim reminded everyone: “Don’t disturb the process. Let the people vote in peace.”

Meantime, Work has started on building the tally board for the Kabwum Open by-election at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium in Lae.

According to Morobe Election Manager Simon Soheke, polling in Kabwum has been running without any problems. “So far, everything is going well. There have been no disturbances and our teams are safe,” he said.

Two Mobile Squad units have been stationed at Indagen in Ward 11 of Komba LLG to support local police with security.

Some polling teams were expected to finish their polling on today, while the official extraction of teams will begin on Wednesday, 23 July. Teams in YUS LLG will be extracted the following day on Thursday.

Mr Soheke said the election team is doing its best to carry out a safe and fair by-election, and is confident that all ballot boxes will be brought to Lae in time.

The vote counting will take place in Lae once all ballot boxes from Kabwum have arrived.

Election officials say they are keeping a close eye on the process and want to make sure all voters are treated fairly and that the by-election ends peacefully.