03 June 2022
Former president of Nauru, H.E. Baron Waqa, will lead the Commonwealth Observer Group to Papua New Guinea’s national
election. Polling will take place between 2 and 22 July.
LONDON, 3 June 2022 – At the invitation of the Electoral Commission of Papua New Guinea, the Commonwealth Secretariat will deploy a
Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to observe the country’s national election scheduled to begin on 2 July 2022.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC, constituted the ten-member group of observers,
which will be led by the former President of Nauru, H.E. Baron Waqa.
The COG will arrive in Port Moresby on 28 June 2022 and stay until the completion of the electoral process. During their
stay, which will see them deployed throughout the country, they will be supported by a team from the Commonwealth
Secretariat led by Mr Linford Andrews, Head of the Electoral Support Section. The deployment of the COG was preceded by
a pre-election assessment team that visited the country in March 2022.
Secretary-General Scotland said:
“I applaud Papua New Guinea’s resolve and commitment in holding this election, despite the many challenges that come
with undertaking an activity of such immense value.
“As always, the deployment of this observer group demonstrates the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting electoral
democracy in member countries and a recognition of the right of individuals to participate in democratic processes
through the credible, inclusive, and transparent elections that shape their societies.
“Under the leadership of Former President Waqa, I firmly believe that the observer group will provide an independent
assessment of the electoral process and work together with the people and Government of Papua New Guinea to strengthen
their democratic process.”
The COG will observe and consider all aspects of the election process - from the opening of polling stations and the
voting process, to the counting of ballots and announcement of results - and determine whether the elections are
conducted in line with the democratic standards to which Papua New Guinea has committed itself.
As per the COG’s mandate, observers will act impartially and will adhere to the standards of the International
Declaration of Principles for Election Observation, to which the Commonwealth is a signatory.
After election day, the group will issue an interim statement of its preliminary observations and hold a press
conference in Port Moresby. A final report, which will include recommendations to help improve future electoral
processes, will be presented to the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Electoral Commission, and will also be shared
with other stakeholders.The Commonwealth Observer Group members are:H.E. Baron Divavesi Waqa – Chairperson
Former President of NauruDr Nicole George
University Lecturer and Researcher
The University of Queensland
AustraliaMs Makereta Komaidrue
Editor, Pacific Islands News Association
FijiDame Winifred Laban
Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Pasifika)
Victoria University of Wellington
New ZealandMs Makereta Vaaelua
Deputy Returning Officer (DRO)
Electoral Commission of Samoa
SamoaMr Hendrick Gappy
Former Chairman, Seychelles Electoral Commission
SeychellesHonourable Peter Kenilorea Jnr
Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee
Solomon IslandsMr Johnson Honimae
Chief Executive Office
Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC)
Solomon IslandsMs Emeline Siale Ilolahia
Executive Director, Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO)
TongaMr Wilson Toa
Country Manager, Vanuatu Balance of Power
Vanuatu
About The Commonwealth Observer Group:The Commonwealth has been observing electoral processes for over four decades. In that time, more than 160 elections
have been observed in 40 countries. Commonwealth Observer Groups (COGs) are independent and autonomous and will normally be chaired by a former Head of
Government or senior political figure.They are composed of eminent persons from a range of fields, including electoral commissioners, parliamentarians, legal
experts, gender experts, human rights experts, and media experts. Most COGs will also have a youth representative.Members are drawn from all regions of the Commonwealth and are appointed in their individual capacities. All missions
are supported by a small team from the Secretariat.Each COG is constituted by the Secretary-General following an invitation or welcome from a country’s election management
body or government.The first COG to the Pacific region was during the 1997 national election in Papua New Guinea and was chaired by the
late former Speaker of the House of Representatives, The Hon Sir Robin Gray of New Zealand.