Women callout

The National Main Stories
Two of the four National Alliance Party endorsed female candidates: Julie Soso intending candidate for Eastern Highlands regional and Kiriwina-Goodenough candidate Joyce Grant.

By STAFF REPOTERS
WHILE women are stepping up in numbers to contest this year’s general election under various party banners, they have also been encouraged to apply for top election positions.
Electoral Commissioner Simon Sinai, after going through the applications for election returning officers, found not even one female applicant.
“It’s not only about winning seats in Parliament. It’s also about the election process itself,” he said.
“I encourage women to come forward and work with us in this year’s election. Apply for positions not only as returning officers but also as polling and counting officials. We will start appointing returning officers in the first week of May.
“Women must also take ownership of this election and play an active role in it. Take part in the polling and counting as this is your election as well.”
The ruling Pangu Pati has endorsed four women candidates, says party leader and Prime Minister James Marape.
“They are sitting here not as just women, but as leader in their own rights,” Marape said.
“They are already leaders.”
The four are Jennifer Rudd for Milne Bay provincial, Lucielle Paru for National Capital District regional, Mofa Nina Giheno for Henganofi Open and Natasha Panta for Alotau Open. The party endorsed all current MPs to contest their respective electorates plus 34 new candidates.
The National Alliance party has endorsed four women including former Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso.
The People’s National Congress party and PNG Party have also endorsed women candidates.
The Government late last year shelved a proposal to reserve four seats in Parliament for women.
Sinai also appealed to men in the country to respect women during election. He said 2022 was the time for change, and all men and women over 18 must vote.
There will be three lines at polling stations: one for men, one for women and one for people living with disabilities.
Meanwhile Marape said he was happy with the candidates picked by Pangu, including the five females. “The councils and I looked into their profiles and selected the best. Thank you to the candidates.”