Candidates behind most election violence

IT pains me to say this, but candidates are truly the cause of violence erupting in most electorates.
Many so-called leaders had been campaigning or rather giving lip-service and holding publicity stunts should live up to their words when they are in office.
Otherwise, it will not reflect the true value of who they are.
Candidates are the ones building arms, bribing and causing disharmony among the communities.
Limited preferential voting en­courages cooperation and vote-sharing among candidates.
As such, violence is unnecessary.
In future, there must be a very strict criteria set by the Electoral Commission or political parties in choosing their candidates.
We have some but they have to be amended because in every election that I have witnessed, most of the election-related violence, deaths and destruction were caused by leaders.
Before any election, intending candidates must come out publicly with their bank statements, should reach a certain level of education and should not be under any criminal incarceration.
Also, the Electoral Commission should  double  the nomination fee to K10,000.
Candidates tend to hide behind political parties and their fancy policies.
How well do they understand PNG in a bigger setting and the social, political and economical issues affecting the country and its place in the international arena?
We forget we are being watched and leaders intending to speak for the poor have to be mindful.
It would be very embarrassing if we were to put the candidates live on TV and when asked to comment on local and global issues, had no idea what was going on.
Therefore, before a candidate is allowed to contest, he/she must be screened.
From recent events, most candidates could not care less because they have nothing to lose.
To the candidates in Jiwaka, Western Highlands and other provinces, if you are truly a leader, accept the loss as there is only one winner.
Show a good example to our children by accepting the result, promo­ting peace and calm.
We will respect you even more.

Greg Ngalye
 Banz