Call for a change of tack

By ALPHONSE BARIASI
WASN’T it Belden Namah who said in an election year not so long ago that he was afraid of things staying the same?
Well, the Opposition Leader mightnot be alone. To the band of mostly young Papua New Guineans crying out for change, you’re in good company. The call for change has become a cliche, especially in this season that comes around every five years.
But there is no denying that there is growing restlessness over leadership – or stewardship. Leadership in politics and the public service could be a lot better. Without sounding overly simplistic, dare we say that things should be done better, much better, even with the kind of resources at our disposal. The question of how is best left to those who have had the audacity to have been voted in or appointed to positions to direct the use of resources. It is no light matter anymore now.
But the past and even the present should be good guides for the future.
And so, as we gear to vote in our next crop of men (and women, please!) to chart the course for this nation toward its golden jubilee and beyond, it is imperative for us to ponder upon how politics has been done so far.
Politics, that excessively overused word is, according to the Oxford Learners Dictionary, the activities involved in getting and using power in public life, and being able to influence decisions that affect a country or a society.
This crucial year is when almost everyone everwhere, from the pampered city to the forsaken hamlet, is focused on getting or giving power to be used (pray that it won’t be abused) for the next five years to impact us all.
We have seen and heard from those who have been involved in the use of power and being able to influence decisions that affect PNG, and might we add, its projection to the rest of the world.
Unbroken cycle
The cycle has come full circle again. But it is a cycle that should have shed some of its less desirable attributes. Some among those we expect to be a lot wiser have been encumbered in the cycle and become part of the political quagmire. They have longed for and won political power but are seemingly content with politics as it pans out – falling in an out of favour with the ruling party and enjoying or being denied the perks that come with that.
But should it go on like this? Why mustn’t the cycle remain unbroken? While the status quo remains the same, there is no apparent end in sight in the foreseeable future for the many woes that afflict the public services, the struggling economy and the general state of life.
This is the kind of politics that has taken hold and is accepted right up to the present.
But there is an awakening, a dissatisfaction with the tide of politics in the electorates throughout the country. I had been privy to the kind of thinking by like-minded people from the three LLG areas of Almami, Yawar and Iabu in the Bogia district of Madang. It is also evident from social media discourse by people from all around the country.
Obstacles to fair elections
Henry Konaka, a contestant in the 2017 race for the Bogia seat points out four obstacles to a free and fair election which he had personally grappled with:
1. Cash and material inducements;
2 Smear campaigning by both supporters and candidates themselves;
3. ‘Follow the leader ‘ – where the leader (pastor, het meri, youth leader, etc.) goes, they will go.
4. A dislike or suspicion of those who have migrated to other parts of the country but return home to contest.
A direct follow-on from the fourth point is the concept of hanmak or proof of one’s commitment. One ought to have done something or laid a foundation to stand upon to campaign. In a way, your hanmak is seen as foretaste of what five years under your leadership would be like.
Basically it has to do with being physically present for long enough so the voters are assured that you share their pain or celebration of life. This is contrasted with ‘fly-in’ candidates, especially those who go from the Port Moresby with their years of experience hoping to win the mandate.
They are regarded as ol Bogia bilong Mosbi, a phrase that has caught on a cynical suggestion that such candidates would run straight to the comfort of their urban life, forgetting those they have tried to persuade to vote for them.
But that is not true, Konaka says.
“After the 2017 election, a few of us unsuccessful candidates came together and formed a think tank to brainstorm ideas. We want to consolidate our unity, resources, mainly in terms of expertise to work with the elected leader of the district.
“We have had politicians and not real leaders as such. That has been lacking for some time,” Konaka says.
“The politics of the recent past influenced by the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties And Candidates (Olippac) has eroded the “power of the people” to the political parties. Parties dominate the power of influence during the five years. Peoples power is only effectively exercised during polling,” he argues.
The kind of politics and electioneering that PNG has had for years promotes a dependency in the electorates and for the member of parliament who has spent personal resources in campaigning, a pressure or an urge to somehow recover those expenses.
Public finances, even in the name of social and economic development must go where the votes came from basically.
Collaboration
Konaka and a few other “also-rans” in the 2017 election have come together to devise a collaborative approach to this coming election. That approach, Bogia holim han na wok bung, is slowly gaining momentum among like-minded citizens of the electorate both here and abroad.
“We want to engage with all Bogia citizens to chip in their ideas to develop the district with whatever expertise and experiences they have,” says Konaka.
“Our team approach entails a four-phased stragegy through: Human resource iedentification and mobilisation; voter education on the team approach; candidate identification and team campaigning; and post-election team work.”
The outstanding Manam resettlement issue, the declining education and health standards, dilapidated infrastructure, the lack of economic opportunities and increasing law and order problems are just some of the issues of concern in Bogia district.
Bogia citizens in Port Moresby have held a number of informal meetings to chart a plan for the coming election and more so following the election.
“In this attempt, the team encourages all Bogia citizens especially working class to share your profiles to the email address: [email protected] or 72163072 as we will maintain a database of all Bogia professionals to be called upon,” says Konaka.