Hi all,

Like all of you, i have been following the "Current Party Standings" on the EC website. The independents have amassed a huge 17 possibles, followed by NA at 15.

Now I'am thinking, if there is alot of independent candidates, would that mean weak political leadership and fluctuating allegiances? I mean would there be 17 possible yoyos, my apologies. But it would seem that since the introduction of Organic Law on the Integrity of Political
Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC), politician keep wanting to be yoyos or join the most powerful party for benefits. Its more of a "keep all options clear" as to which party have a strong policy.

I would think that the role of political parties is to advocate good governance based on honesty, transparency and accountability. Political parties must become institutions then just parties. To many independents potentially weaking our political institutions and hence create a unstable political environment.

liklik tingting tasol
kolwan

kolwan,

Democracy is freedom. I think people exercise their rights to stand as a party or not. Possibly the political parties are too discrete or promote cronism. That may be the reason why political parties do not attract good thinking independents.

Regards,
Imbe

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20070720/frhome.htm

Bengo to deal with ‘yoyos’

THE Office of the Registrar of Political Parties will crackdown on mischievous candidates who got endorsed by parties but ended up contesting under a different banner.
Registrar of political parties Paul Bengo sounded the warning on Government-owned Karai Radio yesterday, when asked to clarify the status of newly declared Manus regional MP Michael Sapau.
He said candidates that received support from a party and contested under a different party banner or as an independent faced censure, he did not indicate if the new Manus MP could be in trouble.
Mr Sapau has maintained since his victory that he is an independent MP and not a member of the Rural Development Party (RDP)
But Mr Bengo yesterday said their official records showed that he was a member of the RDP, an issue Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen is expected to clarify further in a press conference today. Mr Sapau early this week said he refused overtures from RDP to be registered as one of its candidates and did not supply supporting documents as part of his nomination to confirm that affiliation.
Under Section 69(2) of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates, an independent MP could join a political party after the return of the writs and before the election of the Speaker of Parliament.
Only one independent candidate has been elected to Parliament so far – new Kokopo MP Patrick Tammur. The other nine declarations including that of Mr Sapau have party affiliations.
Mr Sapau was a financial member of the National Alliance Party (NA) but contested as an “independent”, after the ruling party opted to endorse the now defeated candidate Stephen Pokawin for the Manus provincial seat.
l Sitting MP Leo Hannett has surged to the front in the Bougainville Regional count with 16,745 votes at 2.30pm yesterday.
Mr Hannett, trailing in North Bougainville at count 51, shot to the front after collecting well in Central and South Bougainville with 4685 (count 34) and 6514 (count 16). Independent candidate Fidelis Semoso has dropped to second place with 16,459 votes.
National Advance Party candidate Andrew Miriki has climbed the ladder from sixth to third with most votes coming from Kieta – his stronghold.
South Bougainville has gone into the elimination process. After the second elimination, National Alliance party’s sitting MP Michael Laimo was still leading with 4753 votes. In North Bougainville, counting has been suspended at count 51 at 2am yesterday awaiting three remaining ballot boxes from the Atolls.