it would be great if there could be 6 - 12 months of community 'conversations', a bit of a roadshow travelling around the Region to engage ordinary folk, including young people who will be ready to vote in a few years.
Topics:
To explain what a referendum means as opposed to usual general elections.
To open up discussion on the rights and responsibilities of being independent as opposed to being autonomous.
Explaining the concept of developing a sustainable economy.
Explaining the government's annual budget in layperson's language so people can ask how much does it cost to maintain our roads. What is being spent a year and who is paying for it? where does the money come from?
What does it mean to be a citizen within nationhood?
It might sound very basic but I'll bet there's thousands who feel the political discourse back and forth between POM and Buka operates at a high level whilst there are voters with some very basic question who either don't know who to ask, too embarrassed to ask or feel know one wants to know.
Community conversations don't need be run by politicians but perhaps a selection of interested people/NGO reps, academics, anyone not looking for a big salary and government car to run around in. It could even be voluntary for the main part, with certain expenses reimbursed. If it had a realistic budget, I'm sure the Law and Justice sector or any funder interested in democratic governance would find the funds.
Community conversations could be integrated into talk-back radio, visiting schools, talking to students and parents. If the local radio station could apply for a 'radio in a suitcase' which probably costs around US$7,000 (maybe that's out of date now), they can walk into remote valleys and run radio programs without large infrastructure support. If the emphasis is on democratic governance, inculcating grassroots on the social and political realities of nationhood, it's an educating activity which is likely to be supported. And then people can be better informed to make their own minds up. They might also know what questions to ask local MPs and candidates when the next elections come up.
The biggest divide is the knowledge gap and fighting ignorance in the long run will prove very expensive
BOC - Auf dem Weg zum MULTIBAGGER, die ersten 500% sind schon erreicht ;-))))))))))))