Former director plans polls agreement

 FORMER Melanesian Foundation director Peter Memafu has put his hand up to contest this year’s Madang by-election, saying he wants to “help the less fortunate people”.

And he wants an agreement among intending candidates that they will not seek court action if they lose but support the winner.  

“Intending candidates who want to become tomorrow’s leaders must first put aside their personal differences and focus on development issues of the electorate,” he said.

“In fact, the people’s welfare and livelihoods must be the highest priority from the start, rather than politicking the issue from the beginning because in the end, people suffer from the actions of candidates’ selfish endeavours. 

“I want to introduce a gentlemen’s agreement after the nominations close. The agreement will invite all potential candidates to agree to sign in order to waive their rights to court battles over election dispute returns.

“This simple agreement will be drawn up and given to all intending candidates to sign if they feel confident of winning or intend to support the winning candidate in bringing development to the electorate. 

“I must encourage all intending candidates that we in Madang must set the precedent for the country to follow suit. 

“We must be serious about our development issues rather than politicking and wasting large sums of the State’s funds on court proceedings and by-elections.”

Memafu said he was seeking a “much more satisfying career rather than looking at how much I am earning doing a job”.  

In 2009, Memafu was awarded a Logohu medal for community services to the people of Madang. 

He said he wanted to continue the opportunities of bringing much-needed social and economic development services to the people, only this time as a leader and on a larger scale. 

“As a leader, I will be able to have more say, contribute more funds and deliver more tangible results to the people rather than be subjected to work within the system as a worker,” Memafu said.

“The Madang electorate is mainly accessible by road and sea network, so bringing in development services will be a huge challenge.”