BY ALFRED PAGEPITU
DESPITE unfavorable weather conditions, the Western Province is alive with election fever.
With just a few days remaining before voters head to the polls on April 17, 2024, the campaign frenzy has taken hold of the province.
During my visits to Munda, Noro, Gizo, and Vella la Vella islands within the province, it became apparent that the average voter no longer cares about party politics and the services they would receive.
When asked, 10 percent of voters from different constituencies shared similar comments, highlighting the high likelihood of choosing the wrong leaders in the 2019 national general election.
When discussing women’s past election experiences, they expressed how they had heard thousands of false promises from their trusted leaders during previous campaigns, leaving them hopeful for a better future.
A young man named Cornelius Vigopala Bobe, a resident of Gizo, also stated that their hopes were shattered when they did not receive all that was promised.
“There are many factors that contribute to the successes and failures of MPs, and most people in villages do not understand the facts and issues affecting their lives,” Bobe remarked.
Bobe emphasized the need for the government to embark on nationwide awareness campaigns, explaining why leaders fail to deliver on their promises to voters. He pointed out how the failure to deliver may be linked to the government party’s policies and the availability of funds.
“We urge the government not to educate voters on party policies only during election fever but to carry out such education two years before the election and allocate a budget to educate those from rural communities,” Bobe suggested.
He further stated that in recent elections, people have been casting their votes for money, and they will continue to sell their vote for monetary and food rewards.
Bobe urged voters throughout the province to choose candidates based on their principles and values rather than what they have received for their immediate needs.
