New Bougainville President by Tomorrow: Pihei

Date -- 1 June 2005
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- The National (PNG) 1/6/05
Copyright - National
Status -- Unabridged
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New B'ville President by Tomorrow: Pihei

By Clifford Faiparik

BUKA (The National Online/Pacific Media Watch): The President for the Bougainville Autonomous Government will be known by midday tomorrow, says Bougainville Election Manager Mathias Pihei.

"The Bougainvilleans will know whether their president is John Momis, Joseph Kabui, James Tanis, Joel Banaam or Bartholomew Kigina. The other winners for the 235 constituencies, 25 women and 28 ex-combatant seats will also be known around the same time," Pihei said.

He said this during the last media briefing at the governor's office in Buka yesterday.

Bougainville Administrator Peter Tsiamalili and acting Bougainville police boss Inspector Cletus Tsien also attended the briefing.

Pihei said that all the winners for these seats will be declared around that time because every thing required to equip the three counting rooms at Buin (South Bougainville), Arawa (Central) and Hujena (North) will be installed before the counting starts by 6pm tonight.

"All the communications and electrical equipments have arrived and have been tested to be alright. The electricians have left today at midday for Buin and Arawa to set up the lightings while the communications technicians will leave first thing tomorrow morning by helicopter depending on the weather," he said.

The returning officers for Buin and Arawa have left yesterday with their stationeries. The counting officers for each of the three counting rooms will be briefed this morning.

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) will be broadcasting live from the central tally room in Buka town to keep the people on Bougainville and also outside informed of the results.

"We are all set for the counting and there should not be any reasons why we should not start counting at 6.pm," Pihei said.

Meanwhile, acting boss Inspector Tsien said that the security situation throughout Bougainville remains normal.

"All the ballot boxes are under our custody on a 24-hour basis," he said.

+++niuswire

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