When is the by-election for Western Highlands Province (WHP)?

I have a great deal of respect for our judiciary systems in Papua New Guinea. However, the continues court battle between the former governor and two-time prime minister of Papua New Guinea, Mr. Paias Wingti and the current embattled governor Mr. Tom Olga leaves me in doldrums. The prolonging of election related cases by our judiciary systems is beyond my comprehension.

Controversial WHP governor, Tom Olga leaves the Waigani court house after one of his court hearings in Port Moresby.

I know there are people who are suppose to do their homework to make sure that these cases go through hearings without any delay but apparently a lot of cases take years just because affidavits are not completed or there are political interferences just because the person who won the election seems to be from the collation government.

The latter takes precedence over the former because as far as politics in Papua New Guinea is concerned those in governments manipulate our judiciary system to suit their hidden agendas. Does that ring a bell? Evidently; most Papua New Guineans believe that, there are people out there who are directly or indirectly directing the court hearings behind the scenes.

Our judiciary system should not be manipulated by any Tom, Dick, and Harry. It should be independent from the government, leaders, or certain individuals. When there is gross manipulation in our judiciary system, those who are implicated with corrupt practices just make a mockery out of our own system.

Now back to the governorship of Western Highlands Province, Mr. Tom Olga is a member of the ruling National Alliance Party headed by the current prime minister Michael Thomas Somare. Conversely, Mr. Wingti is a People’s Democratic Movement Party Leader. If he had won the 2007 National Elections, he would have teamed up with Sir Mekere Morauta and Bart Philemon to form the government. Who is in government today? Somare and his National Alliance Party are at the helm now.

So, how soon is the by-election for Western Highlands Provincial seat be held? Not too soon. For those who are having high hopes for a by-election will not eventuate. Wait for 2012 to choose a new leader to run Western Highlands Province. Western Highlanders are apprehensive of Olga’s leadership and question whether or not our judiciary systems will play on a level playing field.

Former two-time prime minster and governor,Paias Wingti looking relaxed with his son after a campaign tour outside the popular Highlander Hotel in the heart of Mount Hagen City, WHP.

I am neither a supporter of Wingti or Olga. Nevertheless, I am concerned about the leadership scrimmage between these great leaders. While that is on going, I am also concerned for service delivery and a clear mandated leader who executes his duties fairly to serve the more than six hundred thousand inhabitants of Western Highlands Province. The longer we wait earnestly for a duly elected leader to be decided by the courts, the people of Western Highlands Province will surely miss out on vital government services and developmental projects in the province.

Therefore, if the by-elections for Western Highlands Province were not conducted immediately like the one for Kandep Open in Southern Highlands Province, I would declare that I will have no reservations or whatsoever in our judiciary system.