OUSTED Governor for Southern Highlands Province William Powi is calling on the people of Southern Highlands to remain calm and maintain peace during this time of the court order that was issued for the recount of the ballot papers for the Southern Highlands regional seat.
“I want to inform the people of Southern Highlands that the National Court had made a decision to order a recount of the ballot papers for the Southern Highlands regional seat.
“Remain calm, maintain peace and do not be like our opponents who have seen fit to take the law into their own hands to go and lock Agiru Centre which is the public service operational and functional area.
“In 2017, I maintained all along to respect authority and Electoral Commission which was mandated by the constitution to conduct the election and complete counting. I will sit down and allow the counting process,” said Mr. Powi.
Mr. Powi who seemed confident of his legitimacy as the head of the province said he was content with the rule of law however unsatisfied in the manner the court ruling was made.
“I have no issue with the counting but I have issue with the court decision in my suspension because recounting has not started yet.”
Mr. Powi said he has instructed his lawyers to file a Supreme Court appeal on the Courts decision to suspend his powers as governor.
“Court has directed to go and do the recount, the Court ordered the recount which were not submitted to the court and I have been already penalized. This Court decision was not held in Waigani surprisingly it was telecast live from Australia.”
Mr. Powi said these are matters before the Courts therefore he had remained quiet in the past days and didn’t t want to pre-empt anything.
Mr. Powi’s suspension will come into effect on Tuesday 31 August 2021.
Meanwhile Prime Minister James Marape has also appealed to the people of Southern Highlands and Hela to remain calm and respect the rule of law.
PM Marape had used the National Repentance Day to make the call for the people’s understanding as it was the Courts decision.
“Respect the rule of law, forgive one another and allow forgiveness during this time.”
PM Marape also asked that the government properties should be protected and that people should not take the law into their own hands.
“I have directed the Police to deploy two more units to the Southern Highlands for the recounting of the ballot papers to mind government properties and the electoral officials,” said PM Marape.