Electoral awareness seminars launched

Transparency International PNG (TI PNG) launched its Provincial Electoral Awareness Seminars and awareness materials today, funded through AusAID’s Electoral Support Program (Phase 2).

TI PNG along with the PNG Electoral Commission (PNGEC) and Ombudsman Commission of PNG (OCPNG) is visiting all provincial centres in PNG to work with all intending candidates and the wider community to prepare for the 2007 National Elections.

The AusAID funded seminars will communicate the messages of good leadership and more specifically about how intending candidates and the wider community can use the Limited Preferential Voting (LPV) system to influence and support good governance in PNG.

The main activity in each seminar will be the conducting of a mock LPV election that as closely as possible imitates an actual election.

The electoral awareness material consists of posters with cartoons by Bob Browne of “Grassroots” fame and messages such as “Our Vote: Our Future” and teaching kits that help explain those messages, and the LPV. A pocket-handbook of the Leadership Code is also part of the material which will be distributed to intending candidates.

TI PNG Chairman Mike Manning thanked AusAID for their support through the Electoral Support Program (Phase 2),´and the Media for Development Initiative (MDI) who are supporting publicity surrounding the seminars.

“It is essential that the people of PNG understand the electoral process, and elect good leaders into both the National Parliament and their Local Level Governments. We thank AusAID for helping us provide information to PNG voters on how to choose a good candidate, and our partners, the PNGEC and OCPNG for working with us,” Mr Manning said.

The seminars will begin in the Highlands region:

• Goroka, University of Goroka, Tuesday, November 7
• Kundiawa, Mt. Wilhelm Hotel, Thursday, November 9
• Mt. Hagen, Hotel Kiminiga, Saturday, November 11
• Wabag, Wabag Secondary School, Monday, November 13
• Mendi, Mendi Valley Club, Wednesday, November 15

The tour will continue through the rest of PNG as follows:

• Momase region, 18-30 November

Chairman Mike Manning
Secretary Richard Kassman
Treasurer Paul Nindipa
Board Members Peter Aitsi, Lawrence Stephens, Anne Kerepia, John Nonggorr, Mel Togolo, Ian Tarutia, Leon Buskens, Mick McWalter, Iva Kola, Kible Bonga, Sisa Kini, John Glynn
Executive Director Emily George Taule

• Southern region, December 7 – January 19
• New Guinea Islands region, January 27 – February 7

Morning sessions from 8:30am to 12pm are for intending candidates only, and afternoon sessions from 1pm to 5pm are for civil society, NGO groups, churches and community based groups.

Interested organisations or individuals can register their interest by contacting the TI PNG office on ph: 320 2188/82, fx: 320 2189, or email communications.tipng@daltron.com.pg, with their name, the electorate they would like to run for, the organisation they represent, and their contact details. Registration is free.

Ends/…

For more information contact:
William Natera
Communications Officer
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL (PNG) INC.
5th Floor Mogoru Moto Building, Champion Parade
PO Box 591 Port Moresby, NCD Phone 320 2188 Fax 320 2189
E-mail: communications.tipng@daltron.com.pg
Website: www.transparencypng.org.pg

Bonner Tito
PNG Ombudsman Commission
Phone: 308 2600
Email: bonner.tito@ombudsman.gov.pg

Mark Karambi
PNG Electoral Commission
Phone:325 4252
Email: mkarambi@pngec.gov.pg