BUKA (Pacnews) — The 2007 national election operations on Bougainville are under threat as the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission is yet to settle outstanding payments for the region’s by-election.
Even though preparation on the elections have not started yet as there was still three more months to go, Bougainvilleans are already talking about not helping the government if they are not paid on time.
Bougainville election manager Mathias Pihei said the finance department in Waigani had not settled their outstanding bills incurred during the Bougainville provincial seat by-election in September.
The amount owing to people who provided services during the by- elections is about 238,116.40 kina, or $80,000.
When asked to clarify why the outstanding has not been settled, Pihei said their Buka office submitted all documentation for polling officials, vehicle owners, boat owners, venue and furniture owners, suppliers of stationeries and printing firms in November.
“We even had the police to certify those vehicles which were used and were not registered in the no-go-zone areas. Senior finance officials from headquarters who were in Buka twice after the by-election, assured us that all documentation would be effected as soon as they return to Port Moresby,” Pihei said.
He said he is concerned about the delay because he will not do anything about this year’s national election as doing so would provoke those who were not paid.
“The 2002 election outstanding has given the electoral officials on Bougainville a bad experience, and I do not want such things to happen again,” Pihei said.
He said programs for the coming election will seriously be affected if the outstanding payments are not cleared on time.
Pihei said it is important that authorities in Port Moresby fast-track the outstanding payments to allow him to go ahead with preparation for this year’s national election.