Transparency International

like Amnesty International and Austln Volunteers Intnl is an association of like minded people who try to promote integrity in government particularly in developing countries. It was here in Unitech yesterday giving the students skills in understanding limited preferential voting (limited in that only three preferences need be recorded). About 70 students attended a forum-workshop last night following an all day education and awareness seminar. A Director of the electoral commission was here as well. A lot of understandings still need to be developed particularly about the role of a representative: asked whether it would be appropriate for a politician ie, representative - to pay the school fees, or build a clinic or a dam, the respondents had trouble distinguishing where their role as representative differed from the role of the government - ie, the individual from the group. Their understanding is hindered by the existence of an "electorate community fund" which is an allowance for MPs to spread largesse according to the micro level of the community needs. In practice this means looking after those who look after the MP. Australia does it too - it has something called "local area initiatives" which is a whatsanym for porkbarrelling.