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Top cop confident of peaceful polls
POLICE Commissioner Gari Baki is
confident the elections would be peaceful.
He said the security operations planning took more than two years and
they had taken into account various security threats, logistical
considerations and other factors.
“From the onset, I can say with confidence that we would have another
free, fair and successful national general election.
“I am making this bold statement based of a number of reasons,” Mr Baki
said.
He said the first reason was that police had done their homework, adding
that the planning team had done exceptionally well in putting together
the security operational plan.
He said the second was from his assessment after visits to various
locations throughout the country including the National Capital
District, New Guinea Island provinces and Southern Highlands, Enga and
the Western Highlands provinces.
He said his confidence was based on the observations of the trend of
campaigning and also of experiences of five by-elections, which tried
out the limited preferential voting (LPV) system.
He said most areas during this campaign period were quieter than usual.
He added that the LPV system, as opposed to the first-past-the-post,
encouraged candidates to make friends, adding that there was ‘no-more
mad rush to grab voters’.
“Candidates are opening up their base to others in the hope of securing
second and third votes.”
Meanwhile, he urged voters to elect good leaders and not expect anything
in return.
Mr Baki said the campaigning period would have given voters an
opportunity to assess the leadership qualities of the candidates.
“Remember, a person who bribes you is not a good leader.
“Em baim yu pinis (After he’s or she had bought you,) the next five
years is his or hers.”
He said that a person, who threatened voters was not a good leader.
“Lukim na skelim ol lida gut. (Observe and analyse candidates well)”.
“Do not let your stomach decide for you. Do not let short-term personal
gains decide for you. Pray and ask God and he will show you your
leaders,” Mr Baki said.
 
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