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Published: December 7th 2014
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It is an important day here for the residents of the small villages comprising the bigger area around Chi Phat. Today the people vote for seven people to fill the positions that work for the Community Based Ecotourism Committee.
This is the first election in five years. Voters have been informed of the election by their respective village chiefs, written posters, and loudspeaker traveling the roads by vehicle for the last two days.
The positions include director, accountant, 2 positions for receptionist, mechanic and supply clerk, head cook, and booking agent.
Voters are looking for the best candidates to lead their community forward as it grows as a popular ecotourism destination for thousands of visitors seeking an authentic jungle experience.
The nine member election committee, with the assistance of employees from the Wildlife Alliance, have worked for months to organize this event.
Those wanting to be a candidate for a position indicated their interest to run, even if they had no experience. Some candidates do not speak English even though they will be expected to interact with tourists daily, while others presently hold the position for which they are running and are well qualified and experienced.
Before the election, all candidates were "trained" for the job in which they were interested. For instance, the candidates for receptionist had to review and learn the various trek and mountain bike trip offerings available to tourists. After reviewing responsibilities of the job, they could choose to pull out of the race.
Polling stations are located in each of the four villages. Each polling place is overseen by a "registrar," who has a list of all those who registered to vote up to 20 days prior to the election. A policeman is stationed at each place, and also the chief of the village. Others monitor the process to assure transparency.
The polls opened at 8:00 am. A rush of voters crowded the polls in the early hours, but the places were nearly vacant by lunch time. Each voter marks a ballot on which the candidates' names and photos are displayed. If they make a mistake, they're allowed to get a new ballot. They can also ask for assistance. They mark their ballot in the "voting booth"--a table behind a curtain with a single pen on the table. Each voter puts his/her ballot in the ballot box.
When the polls close at 3:00 pm, the policeman and others watching the process accompany the ballot boxes to the central community building where the votes are tallied. Election results are announced the same day.
Then tomorrow morning, it's out with the old people, and in with the new. It is possible that all positions except the one that is uncontested will be replaced.
A special provision allows some of the people already occupying positions to stay and train their successors. And, if by the end of two or three months it becomes apparent that the new position holders cannot fulfill their duties, then the election committee can choose to replace them with the candidate getting the second highest number of votes for that position. The committee can also advertise a "vacancy" and interview candidates.
It's all part of a process to ensure transparency and encourage and allow the people of Chi Phat to participate in their future. And indeed, it seems that following a process in which all voters can participate is of utmost importance, even as the candidate who wins the vote can be booted out if she/he is not up to the job.
Some have expressed worries about the process.
As one of the candidates who now occupies the position for which she is running said, "I worry that we might get seven new people who will not know what to do and will impact the success of the project here. Most of all, I want the project to succeed for the people of Chi Phat."
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Dianne
non-member comment
Inspiring...
Hi Terry, I am inspired by the eager turn out and concern for the environment. I wish that was happening in my neighborhood. The hunting continues just farther out from my place. I am going to contact the Nature Conservancy to see if they will purchase the secondary forest next to my property...it is an island of nature, the rest cattle lands. :( You look happy in Cambodia! Dianne