Dr Alphonse Gelu

Registrar for Political Parties, Dr Alphonse Gelu, made this known during the National Forum for Aspiring Women Leaders in Alotau recently. 

“We know that women are more likely to be elected if they have the support of the resources and networks of a political party. We therefore need political parties to see the value of endorsing women candidates,” said Dr Gelu.

Dr Gelu was speaking at the 8^th presentation of the PNG Political Parties Seminar Series facilitated by the PNG Research Institute (PNG NRI).

“Let’s keep the policy short, let’s not go above five. If we go to ten, we will forget some of those policies. It is quite unrealistic. How can you get ten policies in to an election? Let’s bring it down and then focus and drive those policies,” Dr Gelu said.

Dr Gelu said the seminar series gives the opportunity to all the political parties to present their policies.

The party’s three policy platforms are:

1. God First,
2. Integral Human Development, and
3. Zero Tolerance on Corruption

PNG Party’s ‘God First’ platform would ensure that 10% of the national budget would best serve the churches in the country. Their reasoning, ‘Where there are no government services, the church is always there to uphold the need of the people’.

He challenged women leaders in the province to support each other in the country’s next National General Elections in 2022. 

Dr Gelu utilized the opportunity to advocate for women to step forward to contest in the coming elections. He said it is important that women have a voice in Parliament. He said women currently represent at the ward, president, and local level governments but are still not represented consistently in Parliament.

He said the party conventions will allow them to discuss vital party issues.

“Parties are required to hold their party conventions after a general election. So far only two parties have done that (The National Alliance and Social Democratic Party).”

He encourages parties to also focus on registering more members.

“This is a call I’ve been making every now and then; a party cannot survive without its members. This is critical to the survival of any political party. So membership is very important.”

The activities include raising awareness through expos, conducting workshops and mentoring programs.

The ultimate aim is to strengthen the system of parliamentary democracy and the party system in the country.

The registry will conduct nationwide awareness on political parties, a mentoring program for respective political parties and run learning and development workshops in 2021 to prepare the parties for the 2022 national election.

A new initiative that the Registry undertakes is the Political Parties Expo.

Dr Gelu said this upon receiving acquittals from the PNG National Party after the 2017 National General Elections.

He said it is important for parties and winning candidates to submit their financial returns within three months after the date they were declared.

Gelu explains that this is a requirement under sections 88 and 89 of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates.

PNG National Party General Secretary, Dick Wama, presented the party’s national election report and acquittals on Friday to the Registrar of Political Parties.

The Registrar of Political Parties, Dr Alphonse Gelu, said the outcome of the 2017 National Election indicates that more has to be done to address inequalities in leadership.

The MoU is a long term commitment and is vital to strengthen the registry’s ability to support women candidates and pool political parties’ support for women.

Officiating at the signing, Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific, Professor Michael Wesley commended the 165 women who contested this year’s elections.

Registrar of Political Parties Dr Alphonse Gelu said that is why less women are being endorsed by parties.     

 Dr Gelu said parties endorse candidates they think have big chances of winning.

“Political parties see that women have less chance compared to men. And we are trying to change that.”

Registrar of Political Parties said the concluded Parliament Practice was conducted with UNDP for potential women intending candidates is an avenue to promote women candidates.  

Only three female MPs are in this term of Parliament.