Check Bulolo campaigners

Letters

THE Bulolo open electorate these days seem to continuously be in the headlines for negative reasons and the trend is continuing.
That is while the national elections are still two years away.
Candidates intending to contest the seat have been busy in 2020 gathering people in different communities of the district for “liklik kaikai” while informing these gatherings of their intentions.
The people in Bulolo are aware of those so called leaders currently holding gatherings, the whereabouts and times of these gatherings.
While the local MP Sam Basil is busy jumping from party to party and side to side, many of these intending candidates are hot on the campaign trail to capitalise on his outrageous leadership style.
In the meantime, his district administration has lost track of their co-ordination functions with the local level governments (LLGs), with the exception of Buang and Mumeng LLGs who are still working with whatever little budget they have.
Those intending candidates going about their campaign activities have failed already to respect the Organic Law on National & Local level Government Elections of 1997, which clearly states that: “A candidate includes a person who, within three (3) months before the first day of the polling period, announces himself as a candidate for election as a member of the parliament”.
The law on national elections is very clear on the subject of campaigning and that is such gatherings of the general public or community to announce any candidates’ intention to contest is to be made three months before polling commences.
So the right time to commence such activities will be around March or April of 2022.
What is happening in Bulolo now is a breach of the Organic Law on National and Local level Government Elections (1997).
Can the Electoral Commission clarify this interpretation of the Organic Law publicly for the sake of transparency and accountability in the country’s election process for all citizens?
In addition, could the Electoral Commission put in public areas, an email address and other contact details so citizens can report such activities which are against the laws of national elections in Papua New Guinea?
The process of democracy should be respected by all, regardless of whatever status you hold in society.
As a young country, we should do everything to ensure our democracy remains robust and vibrant – free from any form of corrupt practices.

Advocate
Morobe