REGRETS

By Henao Lister

This is an experience was shared in the office by an officer who attended a funeral in her village. This village is in the Central Province, Rigo District. Its about 45 minutes’ drive outside Port Moresby.

Actual account:

A woman aged 85 was widowed for 35 years. she was illiterate and having no form of formal education manage to bring up her children in a humble together with her late husband. She came from a very unfortunate family from Lebogoro  village, a remote inland village of Rigo. Her late husband from Saroa village where pioneers of a very successful vibrant business that was involved in the transportation and retail business back in the 70s and 80s. Though this was so after the passing of her husband the business took a gradual fall and they lost everything. My husband was part of their family during his teenage years and continue to do so to this day. 

Son looks on his mothers casket

Though she had eight children life was not as comfortable as it seems. Having lost her husband she also witness the passing of one of her daughter. Disaster seemed to have no ending in her life. Her youngest son which she reside with until her passing didn’t show much affection of love towards her which he would later admit with deep regret. At times when she had an argument with one of her children she would be out in the village square sitting in the late nights between 10 to 12pm confused and dishearten

Though she may have nothing in the end one thing she continue to show and give to her children and everyone in her life was love. This was highlighted later on by her own dear son. Every morning before he wakes up his cup of tea was already being made by her. Every afternoon when he returns his mother would give him the best treatment as if a VIP was entering her house. The simple gesture of saying morning, bye and hello was what she showed day in and day out. She would even unleash his shoes when he’s back home.

The son admitted when he read her eulogy that he was so sorry for mistreating her mother. His deepest regrets was never reciprocating the love that she always showed to him. He openly wept in front on the whole congregation as he gave a sound advice to those that still had their parents around. He mentioned to never mistreat your parents when they are alive because his case is an example where he will live with great regrets for the rest of his life.

One sound advice is that love is something that money will never buy. Our parents, partners, loved ones do not need money or gifts from us but our presence and time. Taking time out to visit or giving them a phone call to check up on them. This simple gesture speaks volume.

For those who still have parents around, never take them for granted coz their time on earth is winding down and its only a matter of days, months and some years before they depart from us.

Sharing this to you all

Acey

9 more new partes register for 2017 elections

New parties being officially recognised

 Registration of Political Parties is a requirement under Section 34 on the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties & Candidates. This year saw 9 new political parties registered after going through the registration process and meeting all the requirements. This brings the total number of registered political parties to 44.

The Chairperson of the Integrity of Political Parties & Candidates, Dr. Orovu Sepoe with the Registrar of Political Parties, Dr. Alphonse Gelu, at the presentation of the Certificate of Registration to the new political parties encouraged the parties to be the link between the people and the Government.” The challenge now for you is to go out there and promote your policies and work hard to get political power to be able to fulfil your dreams and aspirations, and upholding democratic principles and values should also be uttermost in your minds when you are in power”, said the Chairperson.

The new political parties announced on Friday 17^th February 2017 are;

1. PNG Human Rights Party (PNGHRP)

2. Wantok in Godly Services Party (WiNGs)

3. Model Nation Party (MNP)

4. PNG Youths Party (PNGYP)

5. Trust PNG Party (TPNGP)

6. Paradise Kingdom Party (PKP)

7. PNG Socialist Party (PNGSP)

8. Nation’s Interest Party (NIP)

9. PNG First Party (PNGFP)

The new political party officials returned on March 3^rd for an hour session and talked about their four (4) main policies for the 2017 elections. Present there where media officials as well as supporters of each respective political parties.

Political Parties get funding form Registry Office

This year saw 10 Political Parties receive funding totaling K820, 000 from the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission (IPPCC). The funding was presented to the executives of the parties by the Chairperson of the IPPCC, Dr Orovu Sepoe along with the Registrar of Political Parties Dr. Alphonse Gelu on the 6^th of October 2016 during the 3^rd Learning and Development Training Workshop for Executives of Political Parties at the Registry of Political Parties Office.

These 10 parties have qualified for funding after meeting the requirements of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission (OLIPPAC).

The funding for political parties is for the purpose of funding to political parties as per the OLIPPAC only after they (parties) submit their annual financial returns by March 31^st in each year and only when the Commission is satisfied with the information contained in the party’s financial statements. These funds are appropriated for in the National Budget for each year and a calculated by way of K10, 000 per Member of Parliament

	Party	Funding
1	People’s National Congress Party	K520,000
2.	National Alliance Party	K110,000
3.	People’s Progress Party	K60,000
4.	People’s Party	K40,000
5.	New Generation Party	K20,000
6.	PANGU Party	K20,000
7.	People’s Democratic Party	K20,000
8.	Stars Alliance Party	K10,000
9.	Melanesia Liberal Party	K10,000
10.	PNG Party	K10,000
	TOTAL:	K820,000

A total of 18 political were eligible for funding, however three parties-Christian Democratic Party, Melanesian Alliance Party and United Resources Party did not qualify for funding. This is as a result of the three parties whose members have just joined the party. As stipulated under Section 85 of the Organic Law; a member of a political party must be with the Party for a period of 6 months or more to be qualified for funding. Members that join the party and are with the party for less than 6 months will not be eligible for funding

Three Parties did not submit their financial report; they are People’s United Assembly; Peoples Movement for change and Social Democratic Party This is stipulated under section 86 of the OLIPPAC

Two Parties were late submitting their financial returns; they are Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party and United Resources Party.

Submission of financial returns by all Political Parties is a requirement under Section 88 of the Organic Law; this also applies to Political Parties with no representative in Parliament.

Empowering Women and Strengthening Political Parties Workshop

By Solomon Puana

Hon Member for Sohe, Delilah Gore at the workshop

The Empowerment of Women and Strengthening Political Parties (EW&SPP) workshop was held in Port Moresby, National Capital District from October 25^th to the 26^th, 2016. The two day workshop by the Registry of Political Parties with support from Australian Labor International (ALI), United Nationas Development Program (UNDP) and New Zealand Aid was an initiative to assist Political parties to identify issues and take specific actions to empower women within their own political parties and across the three phases of the electoral cycle which is before and during elections and within their party organization in terms of constitutions, policies, membership, financial assistance, awareness and training, security, etc. The main purpose for the workshop is to strengthen political parties and democracy in PNG through the political empowerment of women and increased representation of women in the National Parliament.

The workshop was privileged to have Minister for Department of Community Development and Member for Sohe Open - Hon. Delilah Gore, Australian Labor International representatives Mr. Elias Hallaj and Dr Lesley Clark, UNDP’s Ms Lotte Geunis and Julie Bukikun, Ms Kathleen Pearce from New Zealand High Commission, The Chairman of Registry of Political Parties Commission from Solomon Islands Sir Paul Tovua and Rev. Philemon Tili, the Convener from State, Society and Governance in Melanesia (SSGM) – ANU, Dr Julian Barbara of the Center for Democratic Institution (CDI), Richelle Tickle of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development Program (PWSPD), Dr Angela Mandie - Filer and Registry of Political Parties Chairperson Dr Orovu Sepoe.

Out of the 34 registered Political Parties, only 10 political parties that have members in parliament were invited to attend the workshop, however only 9 were able to attend. The political parties were requested to bring three participants each, at least one being a woman. This includes women representatives or executives from each of the parties. Also in attendance were 4 women intending candidates endorsed by political parties and a women MP to participate in the workshop. Participants included the Registry staff, political party executives, Australian Labor Party, UNDP, New Zealand Aid, Center for Democratic Institution (CDI), SSGM – Australian National University (ANU) and a senior officer from PNG National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). NBC is seen as one of the key stakeholders where they disseminate and publish the outcome of the workshops and create an opportunity for political party executives to promote their party policies. Also present were other media personnel namely EMTV, the National and TVWAN. During the second day of the workshop the media interviewed selected participants to talk about issues regarding women’s participation in politics and their preparations towards the 2017 National Elections.

Presenters during the workshop included the Chairperson of the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission Dr Orovu Sepoe, the Registrar of Political Parties Dr Alphonse Gelu, Hon. Delilah Gore, Dr Lesley Clark and Elias Hallaj of Australian Labor International (ALI), Dr Nicole Halley of SSGM - ANU, Dr Julian Barbara of CDI, Lotte Geunis and Julie Bukikun from UNDP and political party executives and women representatives.

The Workshop was officially opened by Registrar of Political Parties Dr. Alphonse Gelu and welcoming remarks by Chairperson of the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission, Dr. Orovu Sepoe stating that the workshop is the beginning of a dialogue between political parties and stakeholders. She added that Politics is about decision making and how decisions are implemented. There is an existence of a perception gap between voters and parliamentarians.

The Chairman of the Registry of Political Parties Commission of the Solomon Islands, Sir Paul Tovua stated that the Solomon Islands will be learning a lot from PNG. He further elaborated that in the Solomon Islands there are a total of 13 registered political parties and only 6 out of the 13 political parties are in Parliament. The legislative measures are underway in encouraging women’s participation in parliament. In Solomon Islands only 3 women have been elected into parliament since independence.

 

Change in the voting system of PNG

By Dr Alphonse Gelu

The Registry in 2015 instituted a study to look at a voting system that is friendly towards political parties rather than the candidates. It is the interest of the Registry to do this under its mandate as stipulated by the Organic Law which is to strengthen political parties in the country.

 

The Registry requested the National Research Institute (NRI) under the late Dr Ray Anere to lead the study. Dr Anere teamed up with a couple of resource persons from the University of Papua New Guinea, the team completed the major part of the studies. The study came to a stop after the passing of the Late Dr Anere. In 2016, the Registrar Dr Gelu decided to re-activate the study by engaging Dr Henry Okole, a political scientist by profession to complete the study. Dr Okole has far reaching knowledge and experience in the area of elections and would deliver according to the ToR.

 

The main Terms of Reference (ToR) for the study is to look at a number of countries that are a currently using a voting system that allows the voters to cast their votes on political parties rather than candidates. The number of candidates winning under such a voting system would be determined purely on the total number of votes that the party scores in an election which would then translate into the number of seats a party wins in the Parliament.

 

The three countries that the study looked at were New Zealand, Australia and Fiji. Fiji has the most interesting voting system where the entire country becomes the only electorate. Votes are given to parties which are then translated into seats in Parliament. The Registry aims to pay a visit to Fiji to take a close look at this system however funding is an issue. The Registry is thinking of requesting assistance from its stakeholders for assistance to enable it to look at the voting systems first hand.

Rait FM's on the internet

Listening to PNG music abroad or domestically is hard to come by especially when radio stations do not go on live stream on the internet. The only station that did that was the catholic’s Radio Maria which can be heard via internet streaming. Another station to join the family to that tune was CHM’s Rait Fm. In a recent launch on its apps, listeners can download the app on google playstore or apple’s itune store. What this means is that the audience is now broader. Internationally and domestic listeners that do not have the wireless coverage can now listen to Rait Fm’s live stream.