NOVEMBER 16 2021
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says there will be no deferral of the 2022 General Election as claimed by critics.
He said this today when answering questions in Parliament from Tewai-Siassi MP, Hon. Kobby Bomareo, on whether the election would go ahead as planned, costing and Common Roll Update.
“This means that the issue of writs, which was planned to take place on April 28 (2022) will remain so, and election will run its course as programmed by the Electoral Commission,” PM Marape said.
He added the election would be fully funded by the Government despite the Electoral Commission still carrying many legacy issues of the past.
PM Marape said the Electoral Commission said it would cost K400 million to run the election.
“We have our team at Finance, Treasury and Planning, PM’s Department and the Electoral Commission to look at the needs of Police, CS and Defence so that we are properly resourced to stage the election on time and on budget,” he said.
PM Marape said the Common Roll Update was an event that preceded all elections and was sometimes open to abuse.
He said a team from the Prime Minister’s Department, Justice Department and Electoral Commission would spell out the penalties for electoral offences, including fraud in the Common Roll Update.
“We want the election to be conducted in the fairest manner so that the Parliament of the people’s choice will be in place on the other side of the election,” the Prime Minister said.
On the issue of Limited Preferential Voting (LPV) versus First Past the Post (FPTP), PM Marape said LPV would remain.
PM Marape said there was a private Members’ Bill to see whether FPTP could come in, however, LPV would continue unless Parliament decided otherwise.
“I want to assure all the people that speculations on social media that the election will be deferred are not true,” he said.
“The election will go ahead as planned and the National Government will give its full support to the Electoral Commission to conduct the election on time, within budget and with the highest level of integrity.”
PM Marape said for the first time ever, Transparency International, National Research Institute and the Inter-Government Election Steering Committee would help give an oversight into the election.
