PLWDs prioritised: Sinai

By YVONNE KAMBIBEL
ALL persons with special needs and are eligible to vote can join women to cast their ballots during General Election 2022 (GE22)’s polling, Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai says.
“They have been catergorised under the same group together with women and the vulnerable,” he said.
“To have booths specifically for persons, especially with disabilities, is not possible.
“So, they will join the women and other vulnerable groups.”
Sinai said the commission had been considerate of the vulnerable in this election (GE22).
He said there will be teams set up closer to them to allow them to cast their ballots during polling.
“In Port Moresby, booths would be set up in Hohola with teams to help the vulnerable, including persons with all kinds and of disabilities during polling,” he said.
“While in Lae, a similar set-up would be set up in Eriku.”
He also said in the nation’s capital, “these vulnerable groups are scattered everywhere, so they can be taken to any of the nearest sets-ups to cast their ballots.
“In GE22, unlike in pervious general elections, we have been considerate and inclusive of everyone for them to exercise their democratic right to vote.”

Support women, says 63-year-old

By REBECCA KUKU
ESA’ALA has stood still since Independence, says 63-year-old Angelina Obedi.
“I was 16 when Papua New Guinea (PNG) gained Independence.
“As a woman leader who has been campaigning in general elections every five years, I have stood and spoken on behalf of many candidates who promised people many things.
“But today, there is still no, change, you see the station, it is the same one in 1975,” she said.
Obedi said that this year (General Election 2022 – GE22) will be the last time she would follow candidates around campaigning.
“I gave up in 2017, said it was the last time, because I was tired of empty promises but when I heard Pangu Pati is fielding two women candidates for Alotau and the Milne Bay Regional seat, it gave me hope,” she said.
The Pangu Pati candidates are Natasha Panta (Alotau ) and Jennifer Rudd (Milne Bay regional).
Obedi, a mother of five with six grandchildren, said she believed that women would bring change to Milne Bay.
“A woman knows how to manage her home, she ensures the house is clean, the laundry is done and warm food is on the table for her children,” she said.
“Today, I want a better life for my children and I believe Pangu Pati will lead the way and set a new path for Milne Bay through the two women candidates,” she added.

Candidates urged to stop cargo cult treatment

CANDIDATES in the Samarai-Murua electorate in Milne Bay should stop treating people as cargo cultists and lower class citizens, says a candidate for the Samarai-Murua open seat.
Joseph Ealedona said for the past weeks, he had observed candidates promising people material goods and money.
“People have suffered badly in the last 20 years and it was time for leaders to take a serious approach in building areas where development has dropped,” he said.
Ealedona said travelling all over Misima had showed lack of development in the area.
“The electorate lacks critical infrastructures,” he said.
“The health and education sectors were suffering and there had been no economic opportunities.”
Contesting under the social development party ticket, Ealedona said his people were not being led well.
He said his people had little to no support from the government.
Ealedona called on the sitting member Isi Leonard to stop treating the people with contempt.
He said by having them wait for a week for Prime Minister James Marape to launch his campaign was uncalled for.
He said people had questions for Leonard to answer based on the lack of service delivery.
“Samarai-Murua needs real change,” he said.
“One cannot blame the Coronavirus pandemic and the court cases.
“One cannot blame these or the lack of progress on service delivery because money and time have been there for development to be carried out,” he added.