Create five political representative seats for women through National Council of Women

Papua New Guinea do not regard our woman as second-class citizen but as an important player in the building of a family unite, clan, tribal and society.  Their great, great grandparents have lived peaceful with the women, and they are the product of those generations. PNG is on its pathway to make Papua New Guinea, a great nation where women, children can have a voice in all works of life. 

There is significant pressure from international organizations for women population to have equal voice at the national political front. Pushing Papua New Guinea to adapt their experiences, standard  is not the way Papua New Guineans wants to see.  They [western] are the fine product of the great, grandparent’s suffering. They are not the generations that came through many struggles that brought about changes enjoy today. They have the story to tell but PNG do not have those stories , so allow Papua New Guineans to change their way and not forcing the international standards or obligations.

The development of women political voice must be done Papua New Guineans way. Papua New Guinea needs international support, but it must be in respect to their social, cultural norms and beliefs so that they have a story to tell their children and next generations.  

What is the meaning of leader? 

Mere meaning is lead. Leader without people is not a leader and people without leader have no direction in their lives. So, leader means lead the people that support and look up on him or her. In political terms, the leaders must have the voters, so any women occupy women leadership position must  have people backing them up [voters], if not they are not leader.

Papua New Guinean women who have born through touch contest to become a political leader of their voters tell the nation that they are not ready to become people's leader. Their records speaks the volume which provide political THINKERS an idea the readiness of Papua New Guinea women.

So, lets look at five women who rose to the pinnacle of  their life in PNG Politics. They have set benchmark overcoming significance challenge from men folks. The two women leaders were elected for provincial seats, while three open seats. The three leaders were fairly treated with minister portfolios, and sat in the National Executive Council, making executive decisions. They were rare breeds, as such, public eyes were fixed on them to see how they would perform as a women leader.

Mrs Josephine Abaijah -1972-2002  [image f#1]

 Josephine's name is recorded in Papua New Guinea politics as a first women elected in National Parliament in 1972 for Central Provincial seat.  Then become member elected for National Capital seat which she lost to Philip Bouraga 1982, then she contested Milne Bay Provincial seat return to parliament in 1997. 

She found a movement called Papua Besena. The aim was to break Papua Region from Papua New Guinea to from Papua as a independent state. If she had success the movement, she would have destroyed Papua New Guinea as a nation. This is how first woman MP have behaved as a national leader not only to her voters but women population in the country. She did not act like mother to bring children together and nurture them. She acts like cowboy trying to disintegrate the infant state.

She never quite, on 4, September 2018, she appear again with the idea of Papua Besena movement.  She said the idea of Papua Besena is still alive.

Mrs Julie SOSO [image f#2] - Eastern Highlands Provincial seat -(2012-2017)

Mrs SOSO became first governor in the highland’s regions. She contested against the Eastern Highlands big names in politics and business and won the provincial seat. She lacks experience working with public machinery and it was biggest task walking into the complex government system.

One of the major challenge faced was challenging the authority of long time serving Provincial Administrator Mr. Solomon Tato. Adding more salt to poor leadership, she was challenging another colleague MP  for Goroka open Mr. Berry Gimesopa.

She proposed many good projects like four story Goroka market but did not realize it because she was busy fighting court battle. So, it’s likely someone later will implement the project.

Mrs Loujaya Kouza [image f#3] – Lae Open seat (2012-2017)

 Mrs Kouza’s performance was poorly rated, as such she was the first one predicted to lose her  seat in 2017 election. Once she was elected as the member of parliament, the first thing she did was to divorce her husband. Many said she seek public office just to remove her husband who worked very hard during the campaign to get her elected.
O’Neill government dumped from Ministries role at the national level promising her Lae City Authority Chairman, which never come through. Some of the projects implemented under her leadership were questioned by her Voters and the public. She lost her seat easily in 2017 general election.

Mrs Delilah Pueka [image f#4] -Sohe Open Seat (2012-2017)

Adding more salt on poor woman leadership  in PNG is former MP for SOHE Mrs. Deliah Puke.  She was on a flight from ORO to Port Moresby. After the flight had set its course for Port Moresby, Mrs Deliah Puke was talking on her mobile phone, a direct breach of civilization Act, thus endangering the lives of travelling passengers.

So, the young lady flight attendance politely asked her to stop using the mobile phone.  She shut-up the young woman who was doing her job to protect the lives of travelling passengers including her. This is what she told her:

“Do you know who you talking to”?  Referring to her cabinet minister!

A women leader fails the young flight attendance who look upon her as a role model and the women population in this country.  She didn’t care about breaking civilization law and putting travelling passengers lives at great risk. 

Lady Carlo Kidu [image f#5] -1997-2017-Moresby South Open seat

Lady carol performance outclasses even the men leaders. She stood out clear among the men leaders so as the women. She was a perfect example of great women leader this country wants to see.  Her performance does not really represent the ability and quality of Papua New Guinean women leaders. She's an Australian, married to Papua New Guinean, so definitely she is not part of Melanesian women, but she was really a role model for women in Papua New Guinea politics. 

What happen to National Council of Women?

The women’s powerful organization in Papua New Guinea is National Council of Women. This organization is women’s mouthpiece. It’s being in operation since 1979, yet its visibility is yet to be seen in the provinces and districts. The evidence on the ground speaks the volume of how poorly women have managed this organization. Its in  totally dysfunctional.

So, what is the grantee of government reversed 22 seats for women. The Papua New Guinea  women lack high level of leadership as being indicated, thus they needs training and capacity development before taking up the leadership role.

So, where can women start building up their leadership skills, and what pathway Papua New Guinea  women takes to rise their voice on the floor of parliament. 

Pathway for five political voice for women leaders

The government reversed 22 seats was without due diligent care. What country should focus is resuscitate the dysfunctional National Council Women [NCW] so that it becomes functional to product women representatives and women voice can be heard from the right place.   

After the government revive NCW organizational structure and system functioning; the NCW will be ready to give birth to five political women leaders.  The five seats will come from four regions and fifth one is the national president. The four regions are;

1.Highlands region, 

2.Island region, 

3.Southern /region, 

4.Momase region 

5.National Council of women president. 

The five political women representatives will have equal voting rights  on the floor of parliament, and funds can be allocated through normal budgets process for women activities in the regions.  The women who become leader will have public respect.

Some criteria to be in place so that whoever born in that space will have some degree of respect and support from the public. Followings are few to be named:

1.Women MUST have family of her won -husband and children 

2.No Divorced women or single mother 

3.University education qualifications  

4.Good social standing 

5.MUST be a member of NCW

6. No criminal record 

7. Other EC candidate criteria 

In addition, women can contest all other seats when become open for contest through the election process.