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The Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai says ballot papers produced earlier for the seven electorates that were split with the creation of seven new ones will be publicly destroyed this weekend. Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai[NBC photo] Mr. Sinai, in a statement last night, says the ballot papers, about 1,305,000, were initially printed for 111 electorates and sent to Port Moresby on the 3rd and 4th of April this year. He says this was before Parliament adopted the Electoral Boundaries Commission report and voted for the creation of the seven new electorates, to be included in this national election. Mr. Sinai says they had to seek Australia’s assistance again to cater for the increase in the number of Parliamentary seats, and reprint the ballot papers for the seven affected electorates and the seven new electorates.  The electorates are Komo-Magarima in Hela Province, Lagaip Porgera in Enga, South Fly in Western, Kairuku-Hiri in Central, Sohe in No

 Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has arrived in the United States to attend the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meetings in New York. Mr Marape and his wife Mrs Rachel Marape arrived at the JFK International airport at 3.15pm Wednesday 21st September 2022, New York time from London, UK where he attended the funeral of late Queen Elizabeth II. They were received by Mr Max Rai, Ambassador and PNGs Permanent Representative to the UN and Charge d’ Affaires of the Embassy of PNG to US in Washington, Mr Cephas Kayo. The theme for this year’s UNGA is “Solutions Through Solidarity, Sustainability and Science” which guides the work of the United Nations (UN) and its members.  Prime Minister Marape will join world leaders in delivering national statements and participate in important discussions throughout the week at the UNGA debates.  He will address the UN General Assembly when he delivers PNG’s country statement on Thursday, 22nd September at 2.30pm, N