Only K20 million released for deferred LLG Elections
PNG Electoral Commission has yet to receive the full monetary budgeted funding to run the local-level government elections.
The LLG Elections and the Motu Koita Assembly Elections have seen another deferment to 26th September 2024, after originally slotted for this month.
Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Minister Soroi Eoe said “It must be understood that we have two very important national events scheduled to be delivered within the same period, and that is practically impossible.
“The long-delayed National Census exercise now running deserves every support for all stakeholders, including public servants across the country.”
Two months before the PNG Electoral Commission carried out the LLG Elections, Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai confirmed that PNGEC had only received K20 million from the K160 National Executive Council approved funding.
“We still need time…to buy ballot boxes, ballot papers and election officials training.”
Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs Minister Soroi Eoe appealed “to the Treasury [Department] and Planning [Department] to give support and prominence to LLG elections and also Census,” referring to the release of government funding from Waigani.
With the addition of the new local level government councils and wards, a total of 372 LLGs and 6, 958 wards writs will be issued on 26th September 2024.