YEP YEP, YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PARTY IS HERE

 

New political party emerges, as PNG gets ready for its National General Election come 2022

 

 

PNGYEP national president Aaron Muta with traditional dancers at the launching.

 

YOUTHS or people between the ages of 15-35, depending on how one looks at it, are the most mobile generation of any country.

Each year school children leave school and become youths.

Also each year, youths become adults. For better or worse, youths are also some of the most marginalised people in PNG.

We have youth groups, youth achievements, youth problems and very serious youth unemployment problems.

One political party launched in Port Moresby last weekend hopes to harness youth partners in the 2022 elections and turn the youth problem into something more positive in 2023 and beyond. 

Starting political parties is the easy part. But running it needs a lot of thought and execution and as we all know, big bucks.

But the upside to this venture is youths, and there are millions of them out there, waiting for any opportunity. There are plenty of youths in the cities and towns, most unemployed.

There is a lot more in the countryside that are in trouble.

How does one harness these youths, first as party members, and later turn them into useful citizens of PNG.

Therein lies the challenge for the new PNG Youths Empowerment Party.

Yes, its yep yep, youths empowerment party.

Brian Jemejeme writes, a newly formed political party has emerged as PNG prepares to go into the National General Election come 2022.

With over 40 political parties already active in the political arena of PNG Government, the emergence of PNG Youths Empowerment Party (PNGYEP) is no exception and is determined to make its presence felt.

The Office of the Integrity of the Political Parties have recognized the development strategies put in place by PNGYEP for youths in the country and delightfully, gave breath-of-life by presentation of Certificate of Registration as a Political Party last week. The Registrar of Political parties Dr. Alphonse Gelu did the presentation in front of his officers in their office in Port Moresby.

Upon receiving the certificate, National President of PNGYEP Aaron Muta thanked Dr.Gelu and his staff for recognizing PNGYEP as a political party.

Muta confirmed the party was registered with Investment Promotional Authority (IPA) on 8^thSept, 2020 and the official presentation of the certificate this year (2021), marks the new era PNGYEP would encounter in terms of infrastructure delivery targeting youths – nationwide as it goes to national election come 2022.

President Aaron Muta receives certificate

“PNG Youth Empowerment party is built on a platform to address lawlessness, lack of fair participation in the economic sector, health services, creating employments, and social orientation etc. We want to have a voice in the National Parliament to address these issues affecting young people.

“There is a huge social gab in the upbringing of young people. Hence, the platform PNGYEP has put in place for the youths in various capacities of infrastructural development would create that moral ethics and discipline,” Muta said.

Meanwhile, during the party’s launching at Eight (8) Mile in Port Moresby, Muta stressed PNG is impoverished with 89 percent of youth populace living in rural communities which are poorly serviced and difficult to access whilst turning them to look for other regrettable options.

He said the economy of PNG is dominated by resource extraction that often suppress landowners in accessing much needed services.

“Youth is power. We cannot sit back and watch the extraction of our rich resources. We’ve got to involve youths in our development plans more often. We have to create a pathway, lead and show them the way. Once they are engaged, they will utilize their strength and move the developments forward,” he said. 

He said youth bulge is a serious issue that could threaten PNG’s future developments and stability. However, it would be an exciting opportunity as well for the National Government to give the youths a chance to anticipate in the development of this nation.

He said even though PNG is vibrant and active in its democracy, the government was plagued with corruption and patronage politics. 

“The capacity to deliver basic infrastructure such as better health services, good quality education, hygienic water system etc are weak, largely due to poor governance and PNGYEP stands to correct that mistake,” he said.

Picture courtesy of PNGYEP’s public relations Femson Francis