NRI to prepare policies for GEs

THE National Research Institute (NRI) will work over the next six months on preparations and policy issues for national and local level government (LLG) elections, NRI council chairman Wilson Thompson says.
“The aim is to build up the capacity of political parties to ensure robust and democratic elections in the future,” he added.
Thompson said the work would be supported by the Australian and PNG governments.

Pictured are scrutineers of Kokopo candidates keeping an eye on counting officials as they were counting the ballot papers at the Kokopo counting centre at Vunapope Diocesan Hall in Kokopo last week. – Nationalpic by ROSELYN ELLISON

He said the implementation of Westminster system of democracy was lacking in the country, so everyone must work together to ensure its established precedents and procedures.
“If left unchecked, it will contribute to the serious issues people portray with every elected leaders and the systems that we employ, including governance, accountability and transparency issues,”he said.
“Before the General Election 2022 (GE22), the NRI helped all political parties in reviewing and presenting their political philosophy, policies and election platforms and visions for the country.

Female counting officials ready to receive ballot papers for each candidate and place them in the respective boxes for the Ialibu-Pangia electorate at Momei Oval counting centre in Mendi, Southern Highlands, last Sunday. – Nationalpic by PETER WARI

NRI also provided scholarships to political party executives and disciplinary forces and agencies involved in election to attend the diploma in economic policy analysis programme from 2018 to 2021.
Last August, the National Research Institute carried out the political parties weekly policies seminar series with 22 political parties out of 44 that presented their visions and party policies.