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Sports |
Clarify party policies
I COMMEND three of our senior
academics – Dr Webster, Dr Anere and Dr Gelu – from the National
Research Institute (NRI) for initiating a series of seminars and
inviting political parties to present their policies.
All parties must grab this opportunity with both hands.
In past elections, candidates made all sorts of promises to the
people which is “personality politics” and is no longer relevant.
Even independent candidates will need to tell the people which
party he or she intends to join and must know the policies of that
party.
Some of the important national issues that party policies must
address include the granting of autonomy and independence to
Bougainville and the New Guinea Island region, and Papuans seeking
Australian citizenship.
Second, to foster national unity, should we follow a decentralised
form of government or a centralised form?
The New Generation Party intends to abolish the provincial
government system.
Third, parties must make their position clear on whether they will
provide free education or subsidise the fees.
Education is now becoming a tool for political gimmicks.
Fourth, should PNG focus on agriculture as a pillar of development
or continue to rely on natural resources?
Fifth, parties should make their stance clear on how to address
law and order problems which are adversely affecting tourism.
Sixth, parties must make their positions clear on the nature of
exchange rate policy which they want to adopt.
Does the party wish to push the hard kina policy, as prior to
1994, or the floating of the kina, which continues to the present?
Lots of lies were said during the two elections by candidates that
contested and parties must address this issue clearly.
There are several other issues which the parties must make clear
their position.
Mamando Pain
Laiagam
 
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