No gender equality in reserved seats

WOMEN are hard working and there is no doubt about that.
Their work begins from the moment they wake up and ends when they go to bed.
As the saying goes, “Behind every successful man, there is a woman”.
Many educated women and girls are now entering trades and professions one dominated by men through sheer determination and hard work.
They have rightfully earned the respect of their male colleagues.
Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu, Dame Josephine Abaijah and Nahau Rooney beat their male counterparts to enter parliament.
If they could do it, why should we reserve 22 seats for women?
This is not gender equality.
Many PNG women are very competitive and I urge them to compete for a seat in parliament through the electoral process and not on a silver platter.
They ought to show everyone that they become MP on merit and by beating their opponents during general elections.
In my view it is wrong to push for the reserved seats as we will undermine our women and underestimate their capabilities to be equal partners.
The bill should aim at making it compulsory for political parties to field at least 25% of the candidates are women.

JM Wemin
Ramu valley