By Clifford Faiparik
Gulf Deputy Provincial Administrator Gabriel Opa has urged people to refrain from following candidates and attending large political rallies during the election.
“I implore people not to travel to other villages to listen to campaign speeches. Stay at home, for the candidates will come to you, as they want to seek your votes. When you travel to other villages, you place a strain on the candidates and residents of that village and you will leave hungry and bad mouth the candidate (who is not at fault). Campaigns should not be kaikai time, but the time to listen to the candidates and to evaluate them-to choose your three candidates”.
Opa said on Friday during the election security operations launching in Kerema. “When voters follow their candidates around, sickness such as coronavirus (covid-19), Tuberculosis (TB), Sexual Transmitted Diseases (STD) and skin disease you collected to your family members- creating medical situations for your family members. This also is the beginning of corruption, pre-committing the candidates”.
“I also implore voters to respect the rights of each other during voting. No one should force a person to vote for a candidate. Every one of voting age and above and on the common roll will vote for a candidate of their choice. But vote with their head and not with your stomach or cash or for your blood relatives.Meanwhile Opa thanked the Police Hierarchy for donating two vehicles for the Gulf Police. “On behalf of the Provincial Administrator and the other Deputy Provincial Administrator, I sincerely thank the Police Hierarchy for getting policemen on the ground prepared and equipped with logistics with two vehicles and other equipment. This will help police to be mobile and enable them to reach out quickly to wherever they are required. Our plea to the Gulf police personnel is to be thankful to the police hierarchy to care for and not misuse the vehicles under the influence of alcohol”.