No funds yet for Morobe Police LLG election operations

Police in Morobe are still waiting for their operation funding for the upcoming LLG elections, says newly appointed Provincial Police Commander [PPC] Superintendent Samson Siguyaru.

Supt. Siguyaru told the Morobe Provincial Election Advisory Committee yesterday that their operation plans had already been submitted to Police Headquarters. However, when he followed up on the funding, he was informed that the warrants had not yet been released.

He said the Department of Treasury is responsible for releasing the warrants, but as of late yesterday, they were still pending.

Morobe Provincial Election Manager Simon Soheke said funding for the LLG elections from the Electoral Commission came through, and polling in some locations should start by Monday.

Despite the funding issues faced by police, the Lae Metropolitan Command stands ready to provide security for the Lae Urban and Ahi LLGs and parts of the Wampar LLG in the Huon Gulf district on Monday.

Miring Singoling, the Deputy Provincial Administrator Corporate Governance informed the advisory committee that the Provincial Administration will provide K1 Million to assist with polling.

Mr Singoling added that the provincial administration will assist with the transportation of security officials and others, by providing boats from the Disaster office for the insertion of security officials along the Morobe coast and Siassi island.

Mr Soheke thanked the Morobe Provincial Administration for their continuous support to the Provincial Electoral office since the planning for the LLG elections began and the recent Kabwum by-election and this one.