Election boss refutes Polye claims

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, January 22, 2017 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)



ELECTORAL Commissioner, Patilias Gamato, has refuted claims by Opposition Leader and Member for Kandep, Don Polye, regarding the electoral roll update and the filing of bio-data information for intending candidates.

In a press conference called by Mr Polye, he claimed that the update process of the common roll was being done at snail’s pace citing incompetency on the commissioner’s part, the government, and the prime minister himself.

Mr Polye claimed that under law, the common roll should be ready in its finalised form a minimum of three months before actual polling takes place.

“My observation that there is lack of support by the national government in terms of financing and resourcing the electoral commission and its commissioner carry out this common roll update exercise.”

“They are not doing this job properly is the beginning of failing throughout the country. This will result in parliament filled with people not properly elected by the people.”

“How confident is he that the common roll update will be ready within three months to polling.”

When contacted to comment on the claims of the election laws stating a required three month period for electoral roll updates to be completed- Commissioner Gamato stated that the law did not state the requirement claimed by the opposition leader.

“It is not in the law. Even the roll updating goes as far as the date of the issue of writs. What he is saying is wrong,” Gamato said.

On the issue raised by Polye on the filing of Form 29 for bio-data not be done before the issue of writs- the Electoral Commissioner maintained the filing of the forms before the issue of writs on April 20, pending legislative changes for May 20, as being legal and under election regulations.

“It is legal, that they can complete the forms, it is under the election regulations- they can do it before and during the nomination period.”

“So it is legal in the election regulation, so these are all dumbfounded statements that are not researched properly.”

“Unfortunately the leader has got his facts wrong and I want to encourage the leader to concentrate on the elections, leave the election administration and management to the electoral commission and we will run it for him.”

“I have no hard feeling for him it is good he is saying that so I can clarify,” Gamato concluded.