Call in PNG for changes in Electoral Commission operations after chaotic opening to poll; New Caledonia re-introduces measures to control Covid spread; nearly half of Nauru has had covid; New Caleldonian double murderer gets 18 years; Commonwealth head travels to Suva for Forum and call for Samoa airline re-think
Call in PNG for changes in Electoral Commission operations after chaotic opening to poll
Deferrals in polling dates were experienced across Papua New Guinea in the first week of the country's general election.
In Enga Province, for example, six electorates had voting delayed.
Voting in the PNG election Photo: Raguel Kepas
It has occurred amid widespread complaints from people denied voting rights because their names weren't on the electoral roll.
The Minister of Petroleum, Kerenga Kua, said he's deeply concerned.
"There's issues upon issues raised on the proper management of the election process. My only hope is that at the end of the day we complete the process, get a substanial number of declarations made so that we can compose, we can consitute a parliament," he said.
Kua said voters in some electorates have set fire to ballot papers after being denied the right to vote.
Sporadic violence is also being reported in parts of the country, coupled with images and videos of unscrupulous voting practices being posted on social media.
Kua is advocating a new approach to how the Electoral Commission operates.
"There's been a multitude, multitude of issues and it goes all the way back to how the Electoral Commission has been managed for decades issues now. I think one of the things that needs to improved is that the electoral commission needs to be taken away from the department of the prime minister, " he said.
New Caledonia re-introduces measures to control Covid spread
New Caledonia's main hospital has made the wearing of masks in its premises mandatory again as the number of Covid-19 infections is on the rise.
In the last week of June, the incidence of infections has jumped by 50 percent, with the highly contagious BA5 variant of Omicron now in circulation.
Social distancing is being encouraged as the border is open and entry restrictions have been eased.
Since last Tuesday, arriving passengers can get a RAT test for free and are asked to report a positive result.
In such a situation, the individual must take a PCR test.
Vaccinations are continuing, with 78 percent having received two doses and 40 percent having received a booster shot.
Nearly half of Nauru has had covid
There are 50 new cases of Covid-19 on Nauru, taking active cases there to 4,125
Nearly 1600 cases have recovered, meaning about half of the island's population has been infected in a matter of weeks.
There are nine cases in the hospital's Acute Care Unit.
New Caleldonian double murderer gets 18 years
A young man in New Caledonia has been jailed for 18 years for a double murder.
The judges had earlier found that the man, known only as Terry C, had killed his stepmother but the murder of his girlfriend, at that time, was deemed accidental.
Both murders happened on January 3rd last year.
The then 19-year-old admitted killed his 40-year-old stepmother, and his 16-year-old girlfriend, during a family dispute.
Commonwealth head travels to Suva for Forum
The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland, is attending next week's Pacific Islands Forum summit in Suva.
She said it's an opportunity to build on valuable relationships with member countries and other partners and discuss shared priorities for collaboration.
Baroness Scotland said "it's always a great pleasure to visit the Blue Pacific Continent, and I am honoured to spend time in Fiji once again among Pacific friends and collaborators."
She said many of the issues facing the Pacific - climate change, ocean governance and ensuring the post-Covid-19 economic recovery and growth of small states - resonate throughout the Commonwealth family.
Call for Samoa airline re-think
The former chair of Samoa Airways, Muagututi'a Lafaele Ngau Chun, has called on the government to consider re-investing in an aircraft.
The Samoa Government earlier this year canceled a lease of a 737-800 Boeing due to its accumulated debt of tens of millions of dollars.
But Muagututi'a says Samoa is in the position where it needs a plane, so it can bring in its people at its choosing while providing competitive airfares.
He says during his term with Samoa Airways they had developed plans but a lack of funding meant they didn't eventuate.