When appointing a representative to the National Parliament, citizens exercise an important right and respond to a duty to the people of the electorate and to all the people of PNG.
This was the statement made this week from watchdog Transparency International PNG (TIPNG).
Chairman of TIPNG, Lawrence Stephens further urged citizens to vote with care in the coming 2017 National Elections.
“If you have a child, who regularly steals from you, would you give him your money to care for? Would you send him out to look after the money of your community knowing that he is likely to steal again, shaming himself and his family?
“A candidate with a record for law breaking, having served time in prison for theft and having been convicted of a serious crime and punished could still do great things for his community.
“But why not let him do these great things without being elected as a representative in the National Parliament and being once again entrusted with millions of kina,” said Stephens.
Stephens added that there are far too many examples of theft by people in public office.
“Voters are urged to consider this when selecting a leader to represent them. When officials steal public funds there are real victims.
“They are our children, our families. For the sake of your community, your province and your country, citizens are urged not to burden the country by electing a person who has already displayed such nature.”