Bishop Rozario raises concerns over Election Integrity and Governance Issues ahead of the 2027 Polls

Port Moresby: Bishop Rozario Menezes SMM of the Diocese of Lae and newly appointed President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (CBCPNGSI) has raised concerns about the 2027 National General Elections, warning that problems from past elections continue to persist.

His Excellency, Bishop Rozario Menezes SMM, bishop of the diocese of Lae

He said election petitions remain high, with 102 in 2012, around 79 in 2017 and 102 again in 2022, mostly linked to bribery, ballot box hijacking, illegal declarations, counting issues, violence and administrative failures. Bishop Rozario said a government committee set up after the 2022 elections identified major weaknesses in logistics, funding and security.

Although 70 recommendations were made, only 28 were treated as urgent and little progress has been made so far. He added that international observers and NGOs did not consider the 2022 elections fully credible, pointing to issues such as missing voter names, poor logistics and untrained polling workers. Some polling stations were under-resourced and unpaid workers led to frustration and even closures.

“These are issues we keep seeing every election and they must be addressed properly if we want credible results,” he said.

He also raised concerns about corruption and governance, noting that Papua New Guinea ranks 142 out of 182 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, adding that corruption continues to affect development, while challenges such as high living costs and unreliable electricity are placing pressure on ordinary citizens.

Bishop Rozario called for strong moral leadership, urging citizens to vote for leaders who will prioritise job creation, address youth unemployment and serve the common good. These remarks were made during a press conference held on April 30 at the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.