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Politics: Reserved Seats for Women

By Wallace White originally posted on Facebook 

No doubt most of you haven't heard, the PNG Government is proposing the creation of 5 regional seats reserved for women. NGI, Momase, Highlands East Papua and West Papua. To address so-called women's issues.

1. Someone needs to specify exactly what are "women's issues"? And why the current MPs (who are supposed to represent everyone) incapable of dealing with them? 

When a house doesn't have a mother the father usually plays both the father/mother role and vice versa. So why can't you guys?

Isn't this an admission that they themselves have failed and are incapable and incompetent in their responsibilities of serving half the electorate? Of taking care of their daughters?

2. We had 3 women in the last parliament. They all failed miserably and were voted out. The electorate is not as sexist you think. Give the PNG people more credit than that. Our people are not stupid. These ladies allied with the corrupt PNC government and so got kicked out. Instead of proving the point like Dame Carol Kidu, they tarnished the reputation of women.

The fantasy that women will be less corrupt or arrogant than men.  Former Lae Open MP used the women and the Church to get into parliament. Once in, her arrogance and behaviour were just as bad as the men. No surprise she wasn't reelected. The electorate is not stupid. And lest you all forget the " Do you know who I am?" scandal. Proving women can be just as bad. 

4. Explain the voting process. Will it be segregated? As in, will only women be allowed to vote for these seats?  Why should men be allowed to vote for these women as these women are there to "represent women"?

And if so then the proposal is sexist, discriminatory and undemocratic. All should be equal under the law.

5. One regional seat per region. Fair enough. Now explain where they will sit in the scheme of things. LLGs. Open MPs. Governors. Ministers. PM. Where in that ladder do they rank? 

Since it is a regional seat, I would assume they rank above Governors? So what are their powers? They aren't ordinary MPs. They are regional members. Define this.

Do they qualify for DSIP as per all elected MPs? Or are we going to create an RSIP since they are regional members? While you're at it, explain how much they'll be paid and where that money is going to come from? That is state the costs involved in creating 5 new massive regional seats.

Instead of bulldozing, let's have a discussion. Better to delay a good law than hastily pass a terrible one that may open Pandora's box. I see no debate, only "YES men".

6. I think if you talked to people on the street, you will find many opposed to this simply on the fact that it is unfair to the male population and women want to kick men's behinds at their own game without assistance.

7. Temporary measures. Don't tamper with our constitution in order to make a quick fix. Do you think a sitting member in the future will allow their seat to be made redundant?

If it's constitutional amendments you intend to make, make decisions that will last forever. Don't fiddle around with it. You set a bad precedence for any moron with the numbers to change the constitution at will. 

8. This is a forced measure seeking equality of outcome and not equality of opportunity.  We already have the equal opportunity under the law. If you are dead serious about equality of outcome then make the race completely fixed. 50% of seats for women and 50% for men. And while you are at it, make sure your parties endorse 50% of your candidates as female.

9. Are the majority of PNG women interested in politics? Try having a discussion with the average woman and she will fall asleep. I didn't say all women. I said the average. I didn't say they can't. I said they don't seem interested.  Men seem more eager to listen to and talk politics. Could be cultural but it could also be personal preference or the difference between the sexes. Men are interested in things. Women are generally interested in people.  

10.  The province with the largest population will always win the regional seat.

11. Official advocacy for regionalism (whether they realize it or not). 

12. There is no publicity for this. The public is unaware. Why push for it without good consultation? Rural PNG is completely unaware of this. 

Now is not the time. It took the West 100s of years to reach this maturity. Please don't ruin it by trying to harvest it early. It will come in its time. Naturally.

13.  It could have the opposite effect. People will say, women already have their seats and thereby will never elect another woman into any other open seat in PNG. Come on! Yumi blo PNG yah. Mentality blong ol lain blo yumi narakain ya. 

14. Women make 50% of the population. Women candidates should have no trouble getting elected. I've no idea why but the successful female candidates of the past successfully collected the female vote.

 The problem is WOMEN DONT VOTE FOR WOMEN.

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