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by SAM KOIM As I have introduced, in this article, we will be exploring the legal qualifications on the right to stand for public office. Bear in mind that subject to these limited qualifications, the right to stand for public office is a constitutional right. Deduced from the Constitution, there are number of limitations/qualifications on the right to stand for public office. In order to stand for public office, the candidate must: 1. Be a PNG citizen (including naturalized citizen): ss. 50 and 103(3)(a). 2. Be aged 25 years or above: s 103 (1) 3. Have his/her name on the common roll: s 103(3)(a) 4. have been born in the electorate for which he intends to nominate or have resided in the electorate for a continuous period of two years immediately preceding his nomination or for a period of five years at any time: s 103(2) 5. pay a nomination fee of K1,000.00: s 103(2) 6. Of Full Capacity (not of unsound mind): s 103(3)(b) 7. Not under sentence of death or imprisonment for more t

A series of Articles by Sam Koim Article I: Introductory I will be publishing a series of articles as part of my contribution towards educating the public to elect reasonably qualified people to the National Parliament in this National General Elections (NGE). Every citizen has two constitutional rights under section 50 of the Constitution to determine the leadership of our country every 5 years: (1) Right to Vote and (2) Right to stand for public office. If you are dissatisfied with the status quo in your electorate, province or country, you have these two powers to invoke during this period. We all may not be in strategic governmental positions to dictate the development of this country, but we all are given the right and the opportunity to stand for public office and elect those who will be in those strategic positions by exercising our voting franchise. Whilst a minority of the population will be raising their hands up as candidates for the 111 seats in Parliament, the en