PWDs need election materials

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YOUTHS with disabilities in the National Capital District (NCD) are calling on the Electoral Commission to provide election materials that are inclusive of all persons with all kinds of disabilities.
PNG Youths With Disability Secretary Patrick Samar told The National, hundreds of them had not voted in past elections due to many challenges.
“We are grateful that the commission has plans to set up strategic locations for us to vote in this election,” he said.
“However, apart from having polling booths that are inclusive of us, there are other specific materials that needed to be provided to make polling more accessible and inclusive for all of us.”
Samar said there are so many different types of disabilities that the commission needed to consider if they had plans to deliver an election that was not only free, fair and safe but also one that was inclusive of all members of society.
“The vision impaired would need braille to help them read the ballot papers and cast their votes according to their preferences while others like myself with dyslexia where reading, writing and speaking can be difficult and overwhelming would need time to process information,” he said. “Those with hearing impairment would need sign language interpreters at the polling booths and others in wheelchairs including those without hands would also need help at the polling booths.”
Samar said all these factors were vital and should be considered if the EC was keen on providing an election that was inclusive of all persons with disability (PWDs) not only in the city but all across the country.
He said although his group which came into existence recently in 2020 was affiliated with the Assembly of Persons with Disability in the country, their aim was to carry out awareness on educating people about their existence with only one key message.
“Don’t look at our disabilities,” he said.
“Look at our abilities.”


Briefs
Young eligible voters including students from the University of Papua New Guinea and young persons with disabilities sign their pledge to vote in the NGE2022 at the Youth Voter Festival last Friday. – Picture supplied by International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

Force set for GE22
POLICE Minister William Onglo says the Joint Security Task Force (JSTF) set for the General Election 2022 (GE22) will definitely ensure election is free, fair and safe. “In other countries security forces are not used in elections, but in PNG we need security because of our bad attitude, threats, intimidation and insecure scenarios in our society,” he said.

Call for amendments
PAPUA New Guinea Party leader Belden Namah promises that he will amend the constitution to allow one- tenth of the country’s budget towards Church related work. The Vanimo Green MP said: “This money is not to build church, building church comes out of our own tithes and offerings where we give on every Sunday or Sabbath. This money is to help the work of the church in the church-run schools and hospitals in the country.”

Appeal to officers
MOROBE police commander, Supt Jacob Singura has urged police personnel, including reservists, to carry out their duties legally and formally during General Election 2022 (GE22) and beyond. Singura said this during the signing of oaths for 65 police reservists from Eastern Highlands who attended a five weeks training on policing in Lae. Morobe senior provincial magistrate Pious Tabil told the reservists that the promise they made to serve the constabulary was a covenant with God.


Fest helps raise awareness among young people

A ‘youth voter festival’ was held over the weekend in Port Moresby to raise young people’s interest, participation and inform young eligible voters in General Election 2022 (GE22).
This was the second festival hosted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in Papua New Guinea, the first was held in Eastern Highlands earlier this month.
IFES and other donors were supporting the PNG Electoral Commission to ensure there was maximum participation of eligible youth, women and persons with disabilities in the GE22.
A total of 200 youths including persons with disabilities attended the one-day event at Nature Park in Port Moresby.
At the festival, an array of fun activities included quiz competitions, raffles, scavenger hunt and performances by popular PNG artists Mereani Masani and DJ Dirty Fingers.
The participants also took part in a polling simulation to ensure that the youth become familiarised with polling places procedures and how to vote.
“The youth voter festival will help me understand the voting process.
“This is my first time to vote and I am looking forward to learning so that on polling day, I know where to go and what to do.
“I know the kind of leader I want to represent my voice in Parliament and I understand that my vote counts,” said one of the participants, Amanda Soalkia.
The festival was an initiative by IFES and supported by the United States Agency for International Development and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia.


Push for cleaner environment

FORMER defence aviation officer Jotham Keleino (Independent), who is contesting the Morobe regional seat, is pushing the agenda for a clean environment for Papua New Guineans and the country.
“A Government must strictly regulate industrial companies and hold accountable,” he said, using the Deep Sea Tailings Placement (DSTP) as an example.
“This method of disposal has already been approved and Wafi-Golpu developers are just waiting for the Government to be formed after General Election 2022 (GE22) to commence operations.
“Apart from DSTP, there are so many social and environmental injustices in Morobe, being the industrial hub of the nation with many major economic projects.”
“Over the years, regulations were not adhered to and loopholes in legislations were exploited.
“For example, fish cannery waste in Malahang, the proposed coal power plant in Tidal Basin, unregulated logging in remote Morobe, to name a few.”