Set entry criteria for politicians

The National Letters

POLITICANS should take ownership and have courage to pass laws that will regulate their qualification criteria and conduct for those intending to enter politics.
Parliamentarians must now stop meddling around playing petty politics and amending unnecessary legislations to protect themselves and their political ambitions.
Our nation is going through a lot in her political history since Independence.
And the recent historical civil disasters in the National Capital District and Enga speaks volume, and shouldn’t be taken lightly.
This national disgrace is a symptom of an ailing political system and is also a test on the political strength and standard of PNG politics.
The continuous echoing of the watchdogs and the far cries of the people are getting louder and louder.
But, are our politicians listening to the people’s concern? Or, are they ignoring their people and waiting for the worst to come?
Let’s be realistic. Remember, what goes around (globally and domestically) will come around.
We are not unique. We are a part of the global village.
Our supposedly intellectual leaders do not realise the sensitivities of this issue. They are behaving like elementary school children jumping here and there to score points.
When are we going have leaders who can think big and step up, be selfless and do something for the greater good of all Papua New Guineans.
People vying to be politicians must look into the history and stories of great leaders such as Mao Tse Tung, Adolf Hitler, John Lenin, Fidel Castro, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.
While their intentions may not have been the same, both good and bad, they had visions and dreams that were applicable to the lands they ruled at that time.
These leaders’ pursuit are good lessons and very educational for PNG politicians to learn and adopt.
Taking the little people for a ride for far too long must stop. Our people’s day-to-day struggles right now are unimaginably. They are inhumane.
Our people also have sons and daughters going to schools and have taught them the basics of the world systems of things and so are no longer stupid to be fooled.
The proposed amendments should include:

  • PREVENT recycling politicians from re-entering politics, if they were unproductive during their previous terms;
  • PREVENT politicians or people intending to enter politics if they have criminal records or are implicated in any crime; and,
  • POLITICAL candidates must have a university degree.

These are some requirements to ensure people with the right mindsets, ability and character enter politics and advance PNG to the next level.
We do not want the next 50 years to be still a “developing nation” for us.

Daniel Angiwe
Aitape