Election on schedule

Source: The National,Wednesday 11th April 2012 THE national election will be held as scheduled with only a slight change. The writs will be issued on May 18 instead of April 27 as previously gazetted. In a day of public demonstration and protest, it was the official line from Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen, who Prime Minister Peter O’Neill admitted yesterday, alone had the power to defer the dates of the election. The decision will not affect date for polling which falls on June 23 and for the return of writs on or before July 27. Also yesterday: qHundreds gathered at the Sir John Guise Stadium to protest the deferral of the election and passage of the Judicial Conduct Law; qSchools and many business houses in Port Moresby were closed as fears spread that the demonstration might turn violent; qDemonstrators earlier stoned cars and damaged a shop in Koki; qHundreds converged at the Eriku oval in Lae to protest the deferral, led by the University of Technology students; and Madang, demonstrators said they were ready to go to the poll