Caption: National
Alliance General Secretary Joyce Grant receiving her party’s funds from the
Registry of Political Parties Chairman Andrew Trawen.
By MATTHEW VARI
A LOT has been said about political parties without anything much being told on how they struggle on a day to day basis to maintain their ideals and survival in the years between elections and the coming changes expected in the political party system.
The Sunday Chronicle caught up with a relieved General Secretary for the National Alliance (NA) Party Joyce Grant who had just received her party’s funding incentive through the Registry of Political Parties and Candidates last week in Port Moresby.
“We have received K100,000 for our 10 Members of Parliament, and it allows me to ensure that my rent is paid, all our funding goes to paying the existence of our office so that we can operate as an entity and are subject to all the organic laws where we are required to justify receiving our payments for rents and other things,” a clearly relieved Grant said.
“Aside from that main bill (rent), there are our three council meetings every year where we bring our council members from around the country to meet.”
She spoke of the problems of surviving as a political party in the country in a time where they are only seen as entities only before and after an election.
Grant also welcomed the changes to the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) provisions which will see an increase in party assistance through the registry.
“We were pushing for that in government, because we were finding it very difficult to survive as an entity,” she said.
“The K10,000 (per MP) is sufficient to just rent an office space for example- you cant find reasonable rent around the country for that note.”
“We are very happy for the proposed increase- it allows us to maybe conduct more meetings around the provinces, and also the executives to move.”
When asked about changes to the OLIPPAC to strengthen parties as institutions rather then just entities, her response was one of optimism in a change that will see more growth in the political system.
“NA has the privilege of being there from the beginning of the law, and I have been a part of NA since 2003,” she explained.
“I have grown up with the law (OLIPPAC) and for me firstly, if it wasn’t for the law it would not allow us to exist.”
“With the amendments coming through like with everything in life, there is always bound to be changes.”
“Change is always good and allows us to grow, I have no issues with them and it is for us to work with them within the law.”
She hoped that in fives years time, political parties will be decrease in number and be more focused in their goals as organizations that bring out the best in leadership for the country.
“With any democracy in any part of the world, it is all through time. In time if we are not bigger, better, and stronger with that law in place, it defeats the purpose of us existing.”
“In five years time I hope to see fewer political parties, but more serious and focused parties and the purpose of why they exist is to identify leadership and keep them within that, a lot of people misunderstand political parties are about- it is a grouping of people with the same mind and thoughts and where leadership grows within.”
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