Campaign on policies: Uguro

USINO-Bundi MP and Education Minister Jimmy Uguro says candidates and supporters should be educating people about their policies and not attacking each other.
Reacting to burning of Pangu Pati flags in several parts of the country besides recent torching of five vehicles belonging to a cabinet minister, he said: “We have to respect each other despite the different political affiliations.
“As an MP from Pangu Pati, I am disappointed with what some supporters did to the flags.
“Burning the flags clearly shows people have no respect for the efforts by our forefathers who united the nation.
“Pangu was the first party in the country, all other parties stemmed from it (Pangu).”
Uguro urged 36 candidates challenging him for the Usino-Bundi open seat to respect one and another.
He said in 2012 the total number of candidates that contested was 52, then it dropped to 42 in the 2017 election and this year it was 37 initially, until one candidate withdrew.
Uguro commended the candidate who withdrew and pledged his commitment to work with him.
He further commented on students being involved on campaign trails: “I have given directions already to students, teachers and schools not to engaged in politics.
“School institutions and facilities must not be used for political purposes.
“The candidates and supporters should respect our state institutions and students and do not engage them in any form of politics.
“Parents are strongly urged to protect their children from doing politics.
“Students must concentrate on their studies and stay away from politics. Students can also learn from such occasions as part of their learning experiences.”

Baing: Leaders should remind supporters to be respectful

FORMER MP and contender for Markham Open Andrew Baing has condemned the recent acts of election-related violence carried out by party supporters of certain political parties.
“It’s really sad to see and hear about what happened to the member for Okapa (Saki Soloma), that is not the way to go in the country.
“Voters need to choose candidates based on their policies, not resort to violence like that,” he said.
Baing called on candidates, their supporters and the public to respect their competitors.
He said leaders of political parties should remind their supporters to be respectful.
Baing, who is running under a National Alliance (NA) party ticket, said people should be involved in agriculture.
He said farmers in Markham were active cocoa and coffee growers contributing to the national economy but rarely benefited from resources available to them such as government grants or services improvement programme funds.
Baing believes in developing human resources at the district level.
Supporting his daughter (Jennifer Baing’s) decision to contest the Morobe regional seat, he said: “I can see her being a good governor and creating more of an impact because from what I have seen, the province has been slow to implement projects and service delivery”.

Do not involve children in campaigns, says Yanis

By REBECCA KUKU
THE National Office of Child Safety and Family Services (NOCFS) has urged candidates and those involved in the 2022 general election not to use children to campaign.
Chief executive officer Simon Yanis said his office would write to the office of Police Commissioner, the Road Traffic Authority and the Electoral Commission to look into this serious abuse of children.
“The National Office of Child and Family Services’ primary duty is to protect children, and I am not happy to see children being used by candidates to campaign for them during this election,” he said.
“The candidates that are doing this must know that this is a reflection of their leadership.
“If you cannot protect the rights of little children what will you bring to the table, how will you protect or fight for the rights of your people?”
Yanis said he would work with the Police, the Road Traffic Authority and the Electoral Commission in arresting those who take advantage of children.
“Candidates and supporters who are reported using children will face the full penalties under the Lukautim Pikinini Act for abusing children.”
Yanis said this did not just apply to candidates and political parties but to parents as well.
“Do not use your children to make money during this campaign period, you want to support candidates, you do so, dress yourself up and go stand in the heat of the sun or get on the floaters across the city but do not use your children.”

Mothers pledge to prioritise safety, security during election

MOTHERS living in the Moresby South electorate of the National Capital District say they will prioritise safety and security in this year’s general election.
The women said they wanted ongoing tribal fighting in their electorate addressed.
Spokesman Joyce Haharoki said over the last three years their lives and those of their children had been disrupted by ethnic groups fighting.
“This ongoing fighting has disrupted our children’s education, our jobs as most times we are not able to go to work whenever there is fighting. These fights close down schools, health facilities, even shops and the main market,” she said.
“We are tired of this, we thank the current sitting MP Justin Tkatchenko, he has brought services to our doorstep but how can we access these services without security.
“So this year we will be voting for whoever comes to us with a realistic plan on how the ongoing ethnic clashes will be addressed.”
Haharoki said they believed that their children have the right to grow up without fear in a secure and safe community.