LG polls: voters’ dilemma 

Various religious and civil associations, including professionals and intellectuals are repeatedly issuing advices to the general public to act wisely and cast their votes only for suitable candidates. Easier said than done.

In the absence of valid prior information, how will the voters differentiate between genuine, honest and trustworthy individuals who are capable and deserving of being elected as their chosen representatives?

What generally happens is that political parties conduct so-called interviews from and among those supposed to be their grass root supporters and nominate them.

Questions can easily arise as to what extent the background of such nominees are being looked into. There have been numerous occasions where supporters who fail to receive nomination from a particular party, switch sides at the drop of a hat.

Each local government area consists of dozens of Grama Niladari areas, covers an enormously wide land extent, has hundreds of households within its purview with a vote base comprising of hundreds of thousands. In terms of the Proportional Representation system, the people have to cast their votes for

candidates of areas alien to them, resulting in being totally unaware of the character background and/or CV of such persons. How then are they supposed to vote for a suitably qualified candidate? All they have to go by are the smiling mugs plastered all over the place.

The entire country is screaming and pleading for a change of system. Whatever said and done, all political parties are only interested in their existence and of grabbing power immaterial of the consequences that befall the country. The worst crime that they commit is to standby and protect their members at any cost in the event of corruption, misappropriation and/or criminal offences.

The forthcoming election (if held) can perhaps be used as a stepping stone for change that everyone is craving for. Here’s what can be done.

Once nominations are closed and the election date is announced, the Secretaries of all parties contesting the elections should display at prominent places in each local government area, a list bearing the name, address and (at least) educational/professional qualifications of the respective candidate(s) including any and all positions held in social platforms.

Such information will go a long way to assist voters to ensure that their preference/ vote has been cast for a person deemed worthy of being elected.

WILLIAM PHILLIPSZ