Parties to be asked to present policies

Political parties will be invited to present their policies at public forums at the National Research Institute (NRI) this month in the lead-up to the start of the general election next month.
NRI director Dr Charles Yala announced the forums yesterday and said they would be NRI’s contribution to the election.
He said NRI’s interest was in contributing towards policy debate in the election.
“As a policy think-tank, we are at the moment very much interested in the policies of our political parties,” Yala, pictured, said.
“NRI’s contribution to the election is to provide forums for political parties to market their policies in a non-threatening and friendly environment.
“We at the NRI would like to see political parties with distinct policies.
“We need to see clarity in what each of the political parties do really stand out for, what they are offering the people of this country to date, the next generation and 50 to 100 years from now.
“We want to encourage political parties to come out and really distinguish themselves and make it clear to the people and the country, where they really stand and how they intend to shape themselves to lives of Papua New Guineans.
“It is the policies that will shape how they govern the country during their term in Parliament.”
Yala said NRI would be holding a series of forums this month.