Leader backs Toni

By ZACHERY PER
A WARD councillor in the Kainantu urban local level government, Simeon Tofuzarh, is backing Lae MP and Minister for Religion, Youth and Community Development Loujaya Toni on her stand against the 22 reserved seats in parliament for women.
Tofuzarh raised the issue yesterday following the Lae Ministers Fraternal backing Toni on her view on bill.
“The creation of the 22 reserved seats bill will be a total catastrophe, the women will not follow the normal process and procedures to get into power,” he said.
“Papua New Guinea is a sovereign state and we must not easily be lured into adapting foreign policies without a second thought.”
He said it would cost millions of kina to have the 22 “free” seats and that the money could be better used for improving the ailing infrastructure in rural areas, where 85% of the people live.
Tofuzarh said the 22 reserved seat bill could be enacted when the country became a developed nation.
He said the country had to be realistic in terms of its development before allowing women to jump on the political bandwagon for a free ride.
“I urge all the women leaders to work in collaboration with Toni for the betterment of every woman’s organisation in the country and not to seek fame and individual interest at the expense of the ignorant people,” he said.