by Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
The Polling periods for the Goilala Open, and West Sepik Regional by- elections, have been extended by seven days.
The extension was made by Governor General, Sir Michael Ogio, to allow the 26 out of 102 polling teams in West Sepik and 16 out of 39 teams in Goilala to complete polling.
The Electoral Commissioner, Andrew Trawen, said that due to the delay in the security allowances for security personnel, the bad weather conditions and transportation issues, the polling could not be completed on the scheduled dates.
Mr Trawen said the polling teams in West Sepik (i.e. Aitape Lumi with two teams and Telefomin with 24 polling teams) and in Goilala (i.e Waitape LLG with 12 polling teams, Guari LLG with 1 polling team and Tapini also with 1 polling team) are either still polling or yet to poll.
The polling period for Goilala has been extended from Friday 24 July to Wednesday 29 July 2015. For West Sepik, the polling period has changed from Friday 24 July to Friday 31 July, 2015.
Polling for both by-elections were initially scheduled to end today, 24 July, however, Trawen is confident the polling in both areas will be completed by 31 July.
