WITH the programme theme “know a party, join a party” the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission (IPPCC) early this week conducted a road show and expo in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands province.
The expo, from June 7-9 was held at McRoyal Hotel and aims to provide opportunity for political parties to showcase their activities and policies to the people in preparation for and in the lead-up to the 2022 general elections.
Registrar of IPPCC Dr Alphonse Gelu said the main expected outcome and learning objectives for the expo were for:
- Political parties to make themselves known to the people in terms of their party ideologies, policies and related information;
- Citizens to understand the purpose, roles and responsibilities of political parties and their significant roles in a democracy like Papua New Guinea; and
- Citizens to know, join and be active members of the currently 46 registered political parties based on party principles, ideologies, values and objectives.
Dr Gelu said the expo followed a survey conducted in 2016 and 2017 on the perception of the people on their understanding (or not) of political parties and how the parties operate.
“Many people still lack knowledge and do not understand the importance of political parties in a democracy like ours (PNG),” he stressed.
Dr Gelu noted that in the 2017 general election, 87 percent of seat in the National Parliament were won by candidates endorsed by political parties.
He said political parties play a critical role in democracy through the electoral process because they act as vehicles through which citizens, including women can (voluntarily) stand for public office and get elected.
“It is important for people to know and understand the important role political parties play in supporting equal political representation and participation.
“Encouraging men, women and youths to be members of political parties as ordinary members, financial members and endorsed candidates can create and increase opportunities for women to get elected into the National Parliament as well as in the provincial and local level governments,” Dr Gelu explained.
The current Mount Hagen meeting, attend by some party representatives is the fourth after three similar meetings in Port Moresby, Lae and Madang in 2017 in partnership with UN women.