Sunday, November 20, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)
OPPOSITION Leader and Member for Kandep, Don Polye, has made his stand known on the decision by the National Executive Council to increase nominations fees, from the current K1,000 to K10,000 and that of Local Level Government nomination fee from K200 to K1,000, as being undemocratic.
He made reference to confirmation made by the Electoral Commissioner Patias Gamato, as reported by The National Newspaper on Friday, November 18.
“On the first issue of the government increasing the nomination fees from K1,000 for national elections to K10,000 is very undemocratic,” Polye said
“It is wrong by every democratic principle, it is not right simply because of what that fee increase creates is a team of elitist candidates, who will be nominating as against the democratic rights of every other candidate who will seek to nominate for public office.”
“The rest of Papua New Guinea candidates who will not be able to nominate for public office as it is stipulated under the constitution.”
He said rural people in isolated electorates like Kandep would be hit by changes that would be for only the well to do budding candidates, including aspiring women nominees.
“If a woman would like to contest against me- she cannot be able to, because that women would not be able to afford a K10,000 nomination fee, but I can afford because my annual income as a member of parliament is high so I can save from that salary I can afford.”
“Even those who support her candidacy cannot contribute to an amount of K10,000 for nomination.”
Mr Polye affirmed the opposition’s stance to challenge the amendments should they be passed into law.
“I will challenge it on behalf of the people of this country. I call on the people of this nation to stand up against it because it is not right democratically.”
“That is why the opposition will take the matter up to court if it does materialize into a law, we will challenge it making sure that it is unconstitutional.”.
He, however, explained that a challenge cannot be initiated before the amendments were not yet passed on the floor, which could be speculative.
“I cannot do that because it is speculative and I have to look at the amendments, the organic law, and the constitution.”
“And also need to understand if it is confirmed by the electoral commission. I cannot get a restraining order- in the past such efforts have been ruled on by the courts especially the Supreme Court that it is speculative and that they need wait for the actual legislation to come out.”
The Kandep MP raised additional concerns on what it might mean for thinning out of the herd to allow individuals with ties to bug business and foreign elements to pose a risk into the political corridors of Waigani.
“It will not be only for those elitist individuals but businesses and companies and even foreign elements for their own interest would like to put up candidates they will be having the upper hand to support those candidates,” Polye claimed.
“People should not be constrained in anyway by putting up financial barriers like that.”
“Also point out that to process such an amendment, on increase must be done properly as is the normal process under law.”
“There must be adequate awareness conducted by government, by the electoral commission to culminate to a decision such as this with candidates members of parliament, institutions of state, various provinces and districts and as you know two years ago they should have started the process or at least a year in advance.”
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