Gain people’s trust, says Duma

CANDIDATES are urged to set aside their differences, put their policies first and campaign peacefully, and gain people’s trust and confidence to be in the race, Hagen MP William Duma says.
Duma, who is the Minister for State Enterprise and parliamentary leader of the United Resource Party (URP), made this clear on Saturday in a political rally he held at Kontla village in Mt Hagen for Western Highlands regional candidates.
Duma said the reason for the regional candidates to come together was to tell their policy to the people and highlight issues affecting the province and how they would fix them if given the power.
He said that this was the way forward as people wanted to see them all at one rally outlining their policies.
He said it was about time people needed to come to know the policies and elect good leaders that could lead Western Highlands.
He said candidates had to campaign together so that whoever that won could lead the people.
Duma said URP had endorsed 49 candidates and the party’s campaigns were based on the policies which were for the good of the country and the people.
He said candidates must put first up policies instead of resorting to violence and threats.
“It is good seeing you all here to stand before this crowd and reveal your policies so that people can choose which one to vote.
“This is true campaigning as policies will change people’s mindsets on whom to vote and for you all to be here, I believe will make a lot of difference,” Duma said.
He also urged supporters to respect public properties during the campaign, voting and the declaration periods.
Duma said leadership started at a small level by controlling supporters.
“If you cannot reveal your leadership here, how can you operate and exercise your leadership in parliament?
“All things start at the bottom and you need to exercise leadership back at home before going into the parliament.”
He said as leaders, they had to do peaceful campaigns so people could vote a person who they thought could come up with healthy polices.
“It is no good voting in people who make lots of commitments and empty promises, they are not leaders.
“Leaders provide the lead, plan for the future and election is a time you have to come up with polices to convince people,” Duma said.

Students lead march for fair, safe election

STUDENTS attending Mendi Day Secondary and primary schools near Mendi town in Southern Highlands joined Electoral Commission (EC) team, churches, business houses and public servants in a peace march calling for free, fair and safe election last Friday.
The students in different uniforms representing their schools displayed placards and chanted, “we want peaceful General Election 2022, no more corruption” and marched through the town several times before gathering near Mendi police station for speeches.
Deputy provincial election manager Grace Wong said the EC team in Mendi electoral office decided to stage the peace march before polling for candidates and their supporters to witness and work together for a violence free election.
“We have seen the outcome of the 2017 National Election, it brought chaos and many of our services were destroyed, forcing people to travel to other provinces.”

Juffa endorses Gulf regional candidate

People’s Movement for Change (PMFC) party has endorsed Elizah Timothy as its candidate for the Gulf regional seat.
Party Leader and Northern Governor Gary Juffa, who was in Kerema at the weekend, said with a membership of 15 candidates, PMFC would support the Marape government to continue the fight against corruption.
He said the party’s fundamental policies were based on three pillars; land, economy and the future.
Juffa urged the people of Gulf to choose right leaders.
“If you care about your country, vote the right leaders,” he said.
“Our party is small and we are funded by our friends and family.”
Juffa said land was the most valuable resource.
“We are fortunate to own land. We need laws that will protect our land.
“We need laws to be changed to benefit our resources so we can own our economy and design our future.
“If you want to take ownership of land, choose wisely during this election, vote a leader, not a politician,” he said.
Juffa explained that the Oro provincial government every year funded lawyers at a cost of K250,000 to defend land cases for the people.
“As long as I remain governor, I will always fund lawyers to take up cases on land issues,” he said.

2023 budget must reflect priorities: Ling-Stuckey

KAVIENG development authority (KDDA)’s Budget 2023 to 2027 must reflect the priorities of the Kavieng people, MP and Treasurer Ian Ling-Stuckey says.
“Some of the policies included the Painim Kapa Project (PKP), sea and land transport, infrastructure funding for schools and churches, small medium enterprises and women’s support grants,” he said.
“Agriculture, including the Kirapim Banis Pik (KBP) will be implemented in my fourth term.”
Speaking in Puas village, Ward 7, Lavongai on Saturday, Ling-Stuckey said the best way to achieve the priorities was for the Kavieng people to endorse the Pangu Pati 8-point plan customised for Kavieng.
“There is minimal change to my seven-point policy platform from 2017, because we want to fully implement and meet the demands of more people.”