Parties should have distinct policies, says Somare

Former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare is challenging political parties to have distinct party policies so voters can vote candidates along their policies.

The East Sepik Governor and the longest serving parliamentarian in the Commonwealth will retire from national politics in 9 months’ time, before issue of writs for the 2017 National Elections.            

“We remain distinct as people of one country, so too must we develop ideologies in political parties that sets each party (apart) from one another,” Sir Michael said during the National Party fundraising dinner last Friday in Port Moresby.  

“We have to change the ‘campaign culture’ that we have created over the years. Let’s throw policies and platforms at our voters, not cash and other cheap incentives that only come every five years,” Sir Michael said.

“We have to be serious in what we offer to the electorates.

“I think the emphasis for political parties today is to amass numbers so you get the invitation from the Governor General to form government after an election.

“This modus operandi is not fair on the voters. They end up ensuring five years of something they didn’t quite sign up for.”

He also challenged the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to exercise its independence by drafting laws that will make it a requirement for political parties to have unique policy distinction.

Author: 
Charles Yapumi