PORT MORESBY (Post Courier) - Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill at the weekend reaffirmed the 2012 general elections will start on time and finish on time.
O'Neill also stressed that not one Member of Parliament will put a stop to the election schedule set by Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen and himself with the issuing of writs set for May 18.
He made those strong remarks when addressing about 1000 villagers at Keapara, Hood Lagoon in the Central Province on Saturday. His remarks were meant to clear the air on Friday's parliament's adjournment to May 15.
Members of the public are questioning the motive of the MPs' adjourning Parliament to May 15, three days before the issuing of writs.
"I assured the unions, churches, business and civil society groups last Thursday that the elections will be held on time. I am assuring you people of Keapara and the country as a whole the same thing. No one, no MP will stop the elections from proceeding as planned," Mr O'Neill announced to clapping and cheering villagers.
He also announced to the Keapara that his party People's National Congress (PNC) welcomes their MP Ano Pala as a new member of the party.
He said the general election is a "silly season". "Even good men make silly decisions during the national elections," he said.