Boundaries Commission to begin survey

By LORRAINE WOHI

THE office of the Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) is calling on all respective provinces and districts to send in a formal submission for the electorate boundaries survey which will begin in July, 2021.

This notice was made know following a formal announcement made by the EBC Chairman and acting Electoral Commissioner Mr. Simon Sinai on Friday in Port Moresby.

Mr Sinai has confirmed that the dates are now set for the Commission to begin the boundary survey in all provinces starting next month.

 “Due to limited time frame and the COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, the consultations will be organised in the four regions simultaneously headed by respective Commissioners,” he said.

The Chairman said the purpose of the tour is to engage with interested parties especially the provincial administration, the LLG presidents, council wards, public servants and other NGOs and Business communities to work together and to provide necessary information needed for the Commission to make recommendations before submitting it to the National Parliament.

The last boundaries survey was conducted in 2006 when first establish and began in the year 1977. This year marks the 15-year periodic review for the electoral boundaries under Section 125 of the Constitution .

 “We have 89 open electorates and 22 Provincial electorates which make the total of 111 existing electorates, up until today, there are still no new changes made to the existing open electorates. 

 “However, with the increasing population over the past decades, the commission feels that there is a need for some changes for the boundaries to be redistributed accordingly.

“Therefore, the survey will be conducted across all provinces so the Boundaries Commission can work within the requirements to deliver its business by proposing for redistribution of new electoral boundaries,” Mr Sinai said.

Under  section 36 of the Organic Law, the boundaries of an open electorate are drawn or revised  taking into consideration; the population density; physical features and communications; existing electoral boundaries; Local Level & Provincial Governments and other administrative areas; and community and diversity of interest where it is consider relevant to do so.

Meanwhile, Commissioner McRonald Nale who is also one of the EBC committee highlighted some of the challenges and limitations that the commission is expected to face.

“The downside of the survey is that we have a seal of about nine electorates.

“The Organic Law provides a sealing of 120 electorates so we can’t go above that.

“Though this exercise may find more people and recommendations for more electorates, however, by Law it cannot allow this,” he said.

Mr Nale further appealed to all provincial and district administrators to work together and start getting their submission written and ready to be presented to the committee when they begin the survey.

The Chairman also advised the respective provincial administrators to show support to the Electoral Boundaries Commission as part of the whole of Government approach taken to complete the survey.

The survey will begin in July 5^th to the 20^th July simultaneously for the four regions and provinces within.

The Commission aims to complete and make recommendations by August before Parliament and the before the opening of writs for the 2022 National General Elections which will be issued in April 2022.