Dede Sophie

Over five million people are expected to cast their votes throughout Papua New Guinea  this and next week in the 2022 polls. The PNG Electoral Commission has reported a generally good turnout on day one of polling day throughout the country. Ballot boxes prepared for polling in PNG Simon Sinai told the NBC Government Talkback Show, that all provinces with scheduled polling days today started, except for the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. He said, “In general, at least there are one or two electorates that have started their polling in all the provinces which is a good sign.” Mr. Sinai said the other issues of the late start to polls, names missing on the rolls, among others, are common issues in every election. He was responding to questions about certain provinces whose polling didn’t commence as planned for today. Mr. Sinai said “Some issues if you like you know it’s on the roll and people waiting on the line and some they don’t find their names...

The PNG  Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) is in the process of conducting a review of the prices of rice in the country. ICCC Commissioner Paulus Ain in an interview with NBC News says rice products are the main food that most Papua New Guineans consume daily. However, Mr. Ain says the commission is only monitoring the prices of rice and not controlling it. The 2022 Rice Industry Pricing Review outlined that the price increases were driven by costs increases in international shipping, blending, the need to source from higher priced markets to avoid shipping delays and congestion, and higher ports and wharfing costs. However, Mr. Ain explains that rice product is experiencing some stability, and he says the country should expect stability or a decline in the prices by the end of this year or early next year. Meantime, NBC News observed some major shops in Port Moresby are selling popular rice brands at K30 to K40 for 10kg bags of rice.     NBC News / PNG Today Next...