Eight Communities Collaborate to Foster Direct Engagement with Candidates to Empower Voters to make Informed Decisions
By David Hui, Stringer/Reporter – Makira
In a significant development, eight communities in East Makira have joined forces to facilitate direct engagement between voters and their candidates through an Open Forum. Under the leadership of village chiefs, Noel Marau chairs the organizing committee, with support from Ismael Weape.
This initiative emerged from the reflections on the 2019 By-Election, during which leaders observed instances of negative campaigning. Marau stressed the importance of creating a conducive environment where candidates can communicate their views, plans, and concerns directly to the electorate.
The primary objective of this Forum is to foster dialogue and interaction between candidates and voters, enabling voters to make well-informed decisions regarding their preferred candidate for the constituency.
The events are scheduled for the 3rd of April for the six Provincial Candidates and the 10th of April for the 17 National Candidates. East Makira boasts one of the highest numbers of candidates contesting in the national election.
Among these 17 candidates, two are females. One of these females is the incumbent candidate Lillian Maefae, who assumed office in parliament after the untimely passing of her husband merely three months into his term in 2019.
The hosting communities have pledged to provide accommodation and logistical support for the participating candidates.
