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Wiser voters, better choices
A majority of voters nationwide will go to the polls this year
more mature and perceptive about party policies and candidates
attitudes. JAMES APA GUMUNO writes.
The culture of the election of leaders in Papua New Guinea was
revolutionized in 1997 when strongly held beliefs that politics
was domain of the rich and famous was broken following the
election of the not so rich.
The victories of one female politician in Moresby South Open seat
and two priests as governors of the Western Highlands and Simbu
provinces also showed political maturity amongst the voters.
In PNG politics rich, famous and man normally go for the elections
every five years.
Political parties and their policies have little or no influence
at all in the manner in which people vote.
People generally vote along tribal lines or are persuaded to elect
certain candidates because of threats, guns or bribery.
Misinformation and outright lies spread during campaign times also
persuade voters to elect wrong leaders in many instances.
But the victories of the three people showed for the very first
time that people voted them because of their firm conviction in
the policies they campaigned about.
The electorate of Dame Lady Carol Kidu encompasses some of the
most notorious settlements in National Capital District.
Crime is not the only problem encountered by many settlers, lack
of basic social services, employment opportunities and constant
abuse on women and children also plague the electorate.
Added to that, Dame Lady Kidu being white and a woman had to
contend with the arrogance, threats and go against standards of
PNG's culture, which frowns on women who try to emulate man.
Many pundits may have written her off even before the race began,
but to their surprise she beat all odds and unseated Albert Karo.
If Lady Kidu had to contend with male dominated politics, the two
priests had tougher and more demanding work cut out of them.
Unlike Lady Kidu, the two clergymen were running for the
provincial seats in the highlands.
In the highlands, running for elections is normally considered a
domain of rich and famous.
The late Fr Louis Ambane contested in 1992 and did not win, but
the experience in that election was an advantage he had gone into
the 1997 general elections and won.
His colleague, the late Fr Robert Lak had no previous experiences
in the national politics and was nominated for the first time.
He was challenging the former three-time and first prime minister
from highlands region and current governor of Western Highlands
Paias Wingti.
To topple a political powerhouse like Mr Wingti was likened to a
David versus Goliath battle.
Even the two men were written off before the go signal was given.
But the two leaders created the biggest upsets, late Fr Ambane
defeated Mr David Mai and late Fr Lak dethroning leader of the
People's Democratic Movement Party.
Their victories illustrated the acceptances of their policies and
ideologies by the people.
The people through their votes demonstrated their desires and
aspiration for socio-economic welfare and full integral human
development through equal participation and distribution of
limited resources.
These policies and ideologies were fundamental to the campaign
strategies of the three leaders.
The three leaders didn't smear their political opponents and slung
mud at their characters.
They offered to the their provinces, practical and feasible
solutions to socio-economic problems.
They preached about importance of good governance, equal
opportunities and gender equality.
They emphasized the importance of retaining valuable traditional
values and family welfare and equal distributions of wealth.
In 2002, Lady Kidu and Fr Ambane were voted in for their second
term.
Fr Lak didn't made it in 2002 national election but over 83, 000
people voted him, this was a 100% increase compared to his last
victory in 1997.
While these votes were not enough to give him the second chance in
office, it clearly indicated that his policies did convert new
supporters.
Fr Lak's development plan for the province contained in a master
plan known as "Vision 2020."
A close friend of late Fr Lak, Mr Elias Kombo said that after Fr
Lak's defeat there has been a lull to his vision.
He said that vision 2020 was not only designed to empower people
socially and economically but was ultimately aimed at making
people become aware of their rights and freedom and using their
potential and their resources to advance themselves.
"I believe that the key to further development not only physically
but in the whole context on of integral human developments
socially, economically and politically can be achieved through
Vision 2020," he said.
He said that because of his conviction in the ideas contained in
Vision 2020, he has decided to contest the Western Highlands
regional seat in the coming national election and continue the
legacy left behind by Fr Lak.
 
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