Reserved seats for women suspicious

THE campaign for reserved seats for women in parliament is becoming hotter as politicians seek to secure votes from women supporters for the 2012 election.
The politicians are caught in a dilemma because they have to be seen supporting the bill even though their conscience tells them otherwise.
The politicians and everyone else know that it is wrong to give such a post of honour and authority on a golden plate.
Honour and authority must be earned.
It is a privilege only for those few who have competed in the race.
While having more women in parliament is good, was there a nationwide survey conducted to get the view of the people?
In fact, it would have been better if a referendum was carried out.
If this came about because  a few people in NCD and NGOs said it must be done, then the view of a few does not represent the majority.
Furthermore, are we certain that a woman’s heart is better, more honest and reliable than that of a man?
We must remember that a woman is also a human being and that each of us has the same survival needs and desires.
What assurance do we have, especially in Melanesian context, that women will perform better?
The desired outcome of good governance with the presence of more women in parliament, will not materialise if there are no debates and the speaker continues to deny MPs from speaking.
Furthermore, the additional 22 seats will cost the public purse an additional K50 million, if this is the correct figure being bandied around.
I urge all our good politicians to let their conscience rule just this once.
Think about the ordinary Papua New Guineans out there who need every toea of that K50 million.
What is happening now, as I see it, is certain organisations and individuals are seeking to manipulate our parliament to serve their own agenda.
They cannot do so with a male-dominated parliament, so they are pushing now for reserved seats for women.
Just look at the aggressiveness of the campaign.
Individuals, groups and organisations have been financed to bulldoze this agenda through.
They know it is now or never.

Clement Manineng
Madang