Election culture of feasting a nightmare: Governor

The culture of providing food and goods for people throughout the country during election is a nightmare for all candidates, Central Governor Rufina Peter says.
“This is the new election culture I’m talking about and is very serious. The culture where you come and feed us first before you talk to us. If you come here, you must bring food. This is the new culture which is now been practice by people and is a challenge for both the male and female candidates.
Ms Peter said that on Wednesday during the 2022 National General Elections Diagnostic Forum on Womens Participation in Port Moresby.
“During my campaign, I was too frightened to go out. Expectation is that you have to come with food. Candidates going out to campaign are coming with something and so you have to do it also. Otherwise you don’t look good. So during the campaigning period I was grubbing with what to do. Almost like you are paralyzed. And that is how serious the voting culture is. But I have made up my mind that it is not me. I am not about handouts and such nonsense that this culture has that we have created. Because this is not our culture. We are not like that. And so, I have to think about how I will actually deal with this. Because it would either get you in or knock you out,” she said.
Ms Peter said she used this opportunity to educate the people to do away with that culture.
“So, I have to give them something. I gave them snax biscuits and three in one coffee packets and told them that we have not achieved what we want to get so we can’t celebrate now. I think it was important to me to portray who I ‘am. Because when you get into the office, they know the line you take. And if you go feeding people during campaigning and when you get into the office, they will expect you to give them handouts”.
However, Ms Peter said that she is still educating the people after becoming the Governor.
“It is not that its finish for me at the campaign. They are still knocking on my doors now. Give me this and that. And so the challenge is how you deal with that. So, your messaging is important during the camping and if you don’t portray yourself who you are, the stress and the mental health will get its toll on you. You have to be straight out. It’s good for you and good for the people and its good for the country as well,” she added.