By HARLYNE JOKU
ANNA Kavana Bais – the only woman candidate contesting the Port Moresby North-West Seat amongst 41 man in the current by-election stands committed to be the voice for the marginalized – women, youth and people living with disability.
Ms Bais says she has made a sacrifice exiting her ‘great job’ as Secretary for Community Development last month to take up politics.
“It is actually a sacrifice, leaving a great job. But I feel that it is time for me to be the voice for marginalized – for families and communities and women in Parliament.
“I feel that it is time to implement and model the policies of the Community Development Department at the electorate and Parliament level.
“As Secretary I felt we were not able to do much of that because funding was a huge challenge to action policies and strategies developed at the department.
“Sometimes we roll out programs, sometimes we stopped halfway, and sometimes we never started.
“So my going into politics, my standing up for Moresby North West is really a hope and a prayer for our families and communities. I am hoping to get into parliament and be their voice. And my strength is that I have the institutional knowledge, I don’t have to study policies, laws and strategies to represent my people, I already have the institutional knowledge,” a confident Ms Bais said.
“I am humbled that People’s Party has endorsed me to contest the Port Moresby North West Seat.
“I thank them for their support and endorsement for a woman candidate.”
Ms Bais has 27 years’ experience working in the Community Development Department where she focused on Family Protection and Empowerment and People’s protection and worked on policies related with women, youth, persons with disabilities and empowerment, Churches and the informal sector.
“As a policy and lawmaker for 27 years, I think it is time I put my hands up for an electorate where I once grew up. An electorate where I had my education, I went to church, I grew up with the community. Port Moresby North-West is where I grew up.
“So I said now is the time to stand up and make the change needed for the electorate.
“And I think my strength is having the institutional knowledge, I don’t have to and study policies, laws and strategies to represent people, I have the institutional knowledge,” the confident woman candidate said.
When asked what would be the main issues she would immediately address when she becomes MP, Ms Bais said “Clean Water”.
She added the one of the immediate biggest issues she will address when she becomes MP is bringing water to the Port Moresby North- West people in areas such as Morata, Tete and the settlements.
“Water is a basic human right. It is not just a service but a human right,” Ms Bais said.
Ms Bais also thanked the People’s Party for endorsing her as their candidate.
Ms Bais is mixed Kairuku and Abau from the Central province.
