The Social Democratic Party (SDP) intending candidate for the Alotau Open seat, Ms. Angela Nelson, is confident women can provide a better leadership for the people, given they run under a Political Party that empowers them to do greater things.
Speaking at the official SDP endorsement of intending candidates today in Port Moresby, she spoke of good leadership and empowerment of women to play a key role in the development of the country.
“When you empower women, you empower the household,” she said.
She also expressed her views on good governance and stressed that strong leadership is what the country needs.
After spending 20 years within the Milne Bay Provincial Administration, working her way to the top alongside prominent politicians such as current Alotau Member Charles Abel, she believes that she is ready to tackle issues relating to health, youth development and other cross-cutting issues.
Also present at the event was SDP Party Leader, National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop and Minister for Urban Development & Housing and Moresby South MP Justin Tkathchenko.
When giving his opening remarks, Governor Parkop remarked that equal representation is vital at the national level, adding that due to the majority of ethnic backgrounds in the country having patrilineal societies, it is four times harder for women to contest for seats in parliament.
He also stated that the government should also implement special measures to promote inclusion.
“Special measures that promote inclusion is not new. Countries around the world also have special measures that allow women equal inclusion,” he added.
Apart from Ms. Nelson, the other female intending candidate endorsed by the SDP is Dorothy Tekwei, who will be contesting the West Sepik Regional seat.
“It’s an honor to be selected and endorsed by the SDP. I want to assure women that there are strong women leaders that they can look up to,” she said.
Ms. Tekwei, a former UN official, is also optimistic that this year’s elections will be fruitful for the party and expressed great satisfaction with the endorsement from the SDP.