OBEC and PNGEC sign MOU
The Office of the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner and the Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Port Moresby recently. With the signing of the MOU, both EMB’s will work together to provide mutual support as electoral partners.
Bougainville Electoral Commissioner, Desmond Tsianai said OBEC and PNGEC share a deep and wide-ranging partnership when it comes to conducting elections in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and in Papua New Guinea, and the signing of the MOU marks the beginning of a stronger partnership between the two EMB’s in assisting each other with election coordination and administration.
Support such as technical assistance, the loan of election materials, the potential support for the implementation of external voting processes, mutual capacity building, sharing best practices and other standard areas of cooperation in election administration and coordination were among few of the points that were noted and discussed during the signing of the MOU.
Speaking after the signing ceremony which took place in Port Moresby on the 30th of October, Commissioner Tsianai stressed that such partnerships and MOU’s are vital for OBEC as preparations for the 2025 ABG elections has already began and underway.
“As we prepare for the 2025 ABG elections, such agreements and treaties with electoral partners are vital for OBEC in conducting a free, fair and inclusive election.”
Commissioner Tsianai said, during the conduct of ABG elections, OBEC is faced with many challengers, and one such is the conducting of polling outside of Bougainville for Bougainvilleans Outside of Bougainville (those whom we refer to as BOB’s) however, OBEC now will be faced with less challengers since the signing of the MOU in which the PNGEC will have to assist in external voting processes.
The purpose of the MOU is to establish a framework for cooperation and to enhance the capacity of both Commissions to conduct a free, fair and transparent elections. It also aims to respect and preserve the existing electoral methodologies and practices established by OBEC, in ensuring that these are neither limited, nor infringed upon.
Commissioner Tsianai once again thanked the PNGEC for its commitment to supporting the OBEC’s efforts in conducting free, fair and inclusive elections in Bougainville and in Papua New Guinea.
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