The National
June 10, 2004
Summary: Overview of recent PR election in Papua New Guinea
http://www.thenational.com.pg/0610/nation1.htm The
National
Jamie wins poll: Beats close rival Wai 23,408 votes to 18,610
Daniel Korimbao
June 10, 2004.
JAMIE Maxtone-Graham is the new Member for Anglimp/South Wahgi
electorate. Mr. Maxtone-Graham was declared winner at 5.45 pm at the Minj
counting centre by Returning Officer John Kilip yesterday afternoon.
According to police providing security in the area, there were
singing and
dancing in the township of Minj, and along the road by supporters of Mr.
Maxtone-Graham, who were rejoicing the fact that they had finally wrestled the
seat away from the Kudjip, Anglimp and Wurup people.
Mr. Maxtone-Graham, who is an Independent candidate, scored 23,408 votes (or
55.71%) in the final count to beat Pawa Wai, who finished runner-up with 18,610
votes (or 44.29% of votes).
Mr. Pawa, a Christian Democratic Party candidate, is the brother
of Paul
Wai, whose death resulted in the by-election being called in this Western
Highlands electorate.
Mr. Maxtone-Graham contested the seat in 1997 as a People's
Democratic Movement Party candidate and lost to Kuk Kuli. In 2002, he launched
an assault on the NCD regional seat in an attempt to topple Bill Skate, but
finished a close second.
Following the death of Paul Wai, Mr. Maxtone-Graham consulted
village
elders, church and youth leaders, and felt he had a real chance of securing the
seat in the by-election under the Limited Preferential Voting system. But
the other 30 candidates ensured he was given a run for his money.
After the count of the first preference votes, no candidates
scored higher
than 10 per cent of the votes. Mr. Maxtone-Graham secured 8.63% of first
preference votes to be in third place, behind William Roimb (9.28%) and Mr.Wai
(8.68%).
But he began his surge as the least preferred candidates were
eliminated.
He hit the lead midway through and never looked back. He reached the
threshold or absolute majority (set at 21,010) after Mr. Roimb was
eliminated and his second preference votes distributed.
Mr. Maxtone-Graham, who chaired the NCDC and Eda Ranu Board, is a
close associate of Western Highlands governor Paias Wingti. But it is not known
who the new Member-elect will side with when he enters Parliament to take his
seat. |