310511 LAUTA WINS ELECTION
By Tom Kathoa

The dreams and aspirations of the people of the Atolls of Bougainville to have one of their sons as a member of parliament has now become a reality with the declaration of candidate Lauta Atoi as winner of the North Bougainville Open seat by election.
Mr. Atoi who has contested two other past national elections has finally made it this time.
He contested the by election as an independent candidate, but with the endorsement and moral support of some parties in the likes of the New Bougainville Party.
At the start of counting, the member elect polled very well collecting votes in all the fourteen constituencies in the North Bougainville region.
His lead was never threatened by the other candidates as the margin between him and the closest candidate was always in the hundreds.
While candidates below him shared the lead, Mr. Atoi continued to cling fast onto the number one spot right from the start to the end and eventual declaration.
The finale figures of 10,463 with a difference of 5301 between him and his runner-up is confirmation of the great support the new member has from the people of North Bougainville.
The just concluded by election was caused by the elevation of former member, Michael Ogio to the position of Governor General in January this year.
Writs for the by election would be returned on the tenth of this month, with the member elect to attend his first sitting of the national parliament during this session.
Ends…