Electronic voting is needed in PNG - Mathias Kin
19 September 2017
JOHNNY BLADES | Radio New Zealand International
KUNDIAWA - A man who stood in Papua New Guinea's recent election says the country needs to establish an electronic voting system.
Mathias Kin, who stood in Chimbu's regional seat, said that for decades governments have paid lip service to introducing such a system.
He said commitment to this system, and its associated national ID plan, had been lacking at the top political level.
After this year's election threw up a host of problems, including electoral roll and ballot box inconsistencies, Mr Kin said the system needs to change.
While he doubts the system would change before the next election in 2022, Mr Kin said steps must be taken.
"What the government really needs to do is... and the opposition and people around, must push for an electronic system."
"At least it will do some good - not everything good, because the bribery will still go on, the pig killings will still go on, the money being thrown around in the village will still go on.
“But at least if the electronic system comes on it will be one person per one vote and I think that's a good idea to go forward to start with," he said.
Mr Wilson my math teacher in Chuave. Yes I remember you well.
Please contact me on my email - [email protected]
Posted by: Mathias Kin | 09 September 2018 at 10:04 AM
How can I contact Mathias Kin? I think I taught him at Chuave High school in 1979 - 1981. Stephen Wilson
Posted by: Stephen Wilson | 07 September 2018 at 08:56 AM
Fire commissioner Patilias and then keep their noses out of Electoral Commission is what the government needs to do.
EC has lost its credibility as an independent statutory body.
Likewise Police, Ombudsman and Judiciary.
Parliament needs to rein in the NEC.
That's what we were hoping a stronger opposition would do.
Posted by: Michael Dom | 19 September 2017 at 10:28 AM
My initial thought after reading this was that an electronic voting system is impossible to implement in PNG, given the technical difficulties such a system would face in many remote parts of the country.
But then I think to myself: so what? Some parts of the country would have to simply stick to the current system.
But if an electronic system were rolled out in those parts of the country, especially around big cities, where there are no technical difficulties, this would already reduce fraud possibilities for a very, very large segment of the population.
So definitely - even if it couldn't work all across the country for the moment, it's still worthwhile to think about.
Posted by: Jakub Majewski | 19 September 2017 at 08:59 AM
The last time that I traversed that section of the road in the picture was 1970, looks sealed now, Then t'was a morass of greasy mud.
I was returning from Gembogl in a Toyota Landcruiser that had been stolen and ran off the road at the small river bridge near a trade store before Gembogl station.
The thief had been secured in the station lock up. Bernie J Maume was the OIC.
I was accompanied by one of my Admin mechanics, John Pokea, from Manus.
After an arduous day, I adjourned to the Chimbu Club for much-needed refreshments.
Not too long after my good friend Don Lusty arrived in from Sina Sina where he was the headmaster of the school. Don proceeded to offer congratulations on the efforts required in recovering the stolen vehicle.
He had detailed knowledge of what happened all transmitted by Chimbu bush telegraph yodelling. Slante!
_________
Not much of the seal left now, William. Nothing much has change with that road in 50 years - KJ
Posted by: William Dunlop | 19 September 2017 at 08:51 AM