CHARACTER and communication assessments should be introduced for individuals intending to contest in elections.
During the public consultation on election laws conducted in Navua by the Electoral Law Reform Commission, the general secretary of the proposed Kingdom Future Party, Paul Morrel, made this submission.
Mr Morrel said while drug tests were already part of the vetting process, additional evaluations, especially on communication, would help determine a candidate’s readiness to serve as a responsible public leader.
“Some, and we’ve seen over the years, comments that are spoken over media by our political figures … it’s either the tone or the words that can instigate things around our nation,” Mr Morrel said.
“Communication is a key. And I’m not asking for somebody to get excellent marks. But just being able to know what can be spoken and what cannot be said.” He pointed to past parliamentary debates, saying the level of discourse at times lacked the decorum expected of national leaders.
Responding to the submission, commission chairperson Daniel Fatiaki said the idea of a communication test was intriguing but posed challenges in practical application.
“Politeness and decorum, understanding, having that there, I appreciate that,” Mr Fatiaki said.
“But some of these are unmeasurable kind of things so putting it into a candidate requirement has complications.”
