Baiyer poll awareness carried out

By YVONNE HAIP
THE people of Baiyer Valley in Western Highlands can now make more informed decisions during the general election – thanks to an election awareness training.
Sixty-six community justice committee members from the Mapoa Peace and Prosperity Association underwent a two-day training funded by the Electoral Commission through AusAID’s electoral support programme.
The training, held at Sanap village, taught participants good governance, democracy, and the limited preferential voting system.
Using the information, the participants would carry out pre-election awareness programmes in Baiyer to help people understand that their votes are vital to the development of the district.
Association spokesman Paul Yambi said after the awareness people would be able to elect good leaders to represent them, identify leaders who would fight to reduce corruption and provide basic services.
He said the awareness, which would be carried out once funds were available, would look into reducing election related violence, and allow people to vote freely for leaders who could develop the nation.
The training was facilitated by Toksy Tamari from the Electoral Commission’s Mt Hagen office.
Yambi thanked the community policing division, Peace Foundation Melanesia, Baptist Union of PNG, Law and Justice Sector, the Electoral Commission, and other individuals.
The association was formed three years ago to strengthen peace in Baiyer valley as it was slowly recovering after a decade-long tribal war.