Dede Sophie

The Sitting Member for Wapenamanda, Rimbink Pato and two other candidates are seeking interim orders from the National Court in Waigani to stop the counting of ballot boxes for the electorate in the province. Lawyer appearing on behalf of the plaintiffs, Nathan Pilamb made the application verbally as a matter of urgency. He submitted that word on the ground is that the Election Manager for Enga or the Returning Officer for Wapenamanda have brought the ballot boxes to the counting venue, in preparation for counting to begin this afternoon. Mr. Pilamb claims that this is despite a lawful directive from the Electoral Commissioner on July 19th, 2022 to transfer all the ballot boxes for Enga to Jiwaka Province, for scrutiny and counting, because of security reasons. Therefore, they are seeking interim injunctions to stop counting in the Province and for the Court to give effect to the Electoral Commissioner’s directive, to be complied with. Justice Joseph Yagi will make a ruling on this mat...

 The Marape  Government saved K127.6 million from the National General Elections 2022. It only expanded K518.2 million of the funds allocated, according to the latest Treasury IFMIS report of August 18, 2022. According to caretaker treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey, this was 54 per cent more expenditure than the K336 million spent on the 2017 election. “There remains K127.6 million in funds not spent that have been approved and fully warranted. “This was by far the best funded election in PNG’s history. We will have to learn the lessons of what went right in many Provinces, but also what went wrong in many others,” he said. “More is likely to be needed to support the calls for biometric identities and electronic voting.” Deputy Primary Minister John Rosso and Mr Ling-Stuckey received an update on the funding situation for the 2022 election from the Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai, Police Commissioner David Manning, and the Acting Secretary for Treasury. The meeting covered the K645.8 milli...

 PNG Hunters hooker and PNG International Wartovo Puara will lead the Papua New Guinea PM’s XIII on Sunday when they take on Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia.  Puara is a wealth of experience with seven international appearances to his name, as well as being the most capped PNG Hunter.  He will be in the middle of everything as the hooker, and Coach Stan will need him to lead the young pack from the back of the ruck. He’s a sensible dummy half who knows the game and manages the shifts in momentum better than anyone. He’s influential on the field, knows when to inject himself and is a role model for the younger boys. We know he will lead well.  Papua New Guinea squad to face Australian Prime Minister’s XIII: 1. Edene Gebbie 2. Jimmy Ngutlik 3. Brandon Nima 4. Rodrick Tai 5. Leon Undupia 6. Judah Rimbu 7. Kyle Laybutt 8. McKenzie Yei 9. Wartovo Puara 10. Sylvester Namo 11. Nixon Putt 12. Dan Russell 13. Keven Appo 14. Wesser Tenza 15. Emmanuel Waine 16...