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Election Materials for South Bougainville By-election Arrive
Election materials and ballot papers for the South Bougainville by-election have arrived in Buin last week and will be distributed this week in preparation for polling which starts on Saturday 18 June 2016. Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato confirmed that the PNGEC chartered fixed wing aircraft arrived at Aropa airport in Arawa with the election materials and ballot papers last Friday (10 June 2016).
He said upon arrival the election materials and ballot papers were unloaded and escorted by Arawa police, the returning officer John Itano and his four assistant returning officers to the Buin police station where they were locked up for safe keeping for distribution to the four districts this week in preparation for polling.
Mr. Gamato said training teams from PNGEC headquarters and the Bougainville Electoral Commission have successfully completed poll training for all the polling officials last week and the PNGEC team returned to Port Moresby over the weekend.
The three-day poll training started last Tuesday in Bana district; Siwai and Torokina on Wednesday; and ended on Thursday in Buin district – Bougainville Electoral Commissioner George Manu witnessed polling training in the four districts.
The final number of polling officials and police security personnel to be engaged polling for the South Bougainville by-election have yet to be confirmed.
Arrangements for transport have been completed while presiding officers’ journals were being printed by the Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commission (OBEC).
Meanwhile, polling for the Nabak Rural LLG president seat by-election will run concurrently with the South Bougainville by-election will also start on Saturday 18 June 2016.
ALPHONSE MUAPI
Media Officer