11 Jul 2012

PNG's Trawen irked by counting delays

5:29 pm on 11 July 2012

Papua New Guinea Electoral Commissioner, Andrew Trawen, says delays in all counting venues should not be made unnecessarily.

Mr Trawen has issued a statement following reports that some candidates' scrutineers are putting undue pressure on counting officials and Returning Officers to suspend counting needlessly.

Mr Trawen says counting was often stopped due to the absence of scrutineers which he says should not be case.

He says the Returning Officer and counting officials are not obliged to ensure scrutineers are present all the time before counting can take place.

Mr Trawen says in the wider interests of the community the Electoral Commission has always insisted on ensuring scrutineers are present before any counting starts.

But he says it is up to candidates to make certain their scrutineers are always available and on time in order to stop any unnecessary delays.