Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission

1608 Roll Update work underway in Hula and Irupara Wards in Rigo

The Electoral Commission has commenced The Electoral Roll update in two (2) of Rigo District’s wards, Hula and Irupara last week Friday the 12^th of August 2016. Speaking from the reception at Irupara, the Electoral Commissioner Mr. Patilias Gamato gave a clarification into the exercise as the first since formally launching the nationwide Electoral Roll update last month at Kwikilla station, Rigo District. The Roll update in Hula and Irupara signifies the start of the program nationwide. He further explained that the exercise in Hula was also conducted as an insight for the donors and stakeholders on the capabilities of what the current PNGEC administration can do. The Electoral Roll update exercise will go on for a period of seven (7) days in Hula, Irupara and the nearby wards in Kalo and others. Mr. Gamato is aiming that by September 2016, the Electoral Roll update should reach all provinces across the country.

(The Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Patilias Gamato addressing the media and the people at Irupara Village)

Prior to the exercise, a two (2) days 2^nd Level training for the Enrolment Agents was conducted at Kemabolo village. It was deemed a success as the Agents conducted the enrolment exercise very well and speaking from the experience, an overwhelmed Returning Officer (RO) Mr. Virgil Waisa stated that they are planning the next 2^nd level trainings for Central and Inland Rigo to commence this week. The tentative dates for the 2^nd Level trainings are as follows;

• Central Rigo training to be conducted on the 16^th and 17^th August 2016 &
• Inland Rigo training to be conducted two days after on the 18^th and 19^th August 2016.

Mr. Waisa was also pleased with the turnout at Irupara and Hula and urged all citizens to make time available to enrol as enrolment is compulsory as stated in the Organic Law on National and LLG Elections.

(An Enrolment Agent assists a senior citizen check his name on the Electoral roll in Hula, Rigo District)

The Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Gamato in his speech also made mention of a 5 day workshop to be held in Lae on the 22^nd to the 26^th of August, 2016. This workshop will see Election Managers and Assistant Election Managers trained as TOTs for the Electoral Roll update. They will then go back to their provinces and train their ROs and AROs who will then train the Enrolment Agents at the district level. Mr. Gamato clarified that this cascading training process is taken in line with the “decentralization of the roll” concept which the Commission is undertaking for the 2016 Electoral Roll update.

In other related news, Mr. Gamato was pleased to announce that the PNGEC has signed 18 MOUs with 18 provincial governments with already talks underway for New Ireland, Western and Gulf province to sign theirs in the coming months. “With the budget cut to K63 million after a proposed K190 plus million for the roll update, it was very overwhelming to see provincial governments supporting PNGEC and signing MOUs to carry out the Electoral roll updates in their respective provinces,” he said. 

Jerry Walker Anis
IRC Project Officer