People from the newly-established O’Chrey village vote to nominate candidates for village chief on April 4. Fresh News
The Ministry of Civil Service and the Kratie provincial working group are organising polls to select village chief candidates for the new 37 villages in 17 communes of five town/districts which the Ministry of Interior established in March to meet the needs of residents. The polls are expected to last through next week.
Civil service minister Prum Sokha, who is also head of the national working group for Kratie, met with 50 residents of one of the newly established village, O’Chrey, on April 3.
O’Chrey was created by subdividing Prek Prasap village of Prek Prasap district’s Prek Prasap commune.
“After Sokha’s speech, a poll was held regarding six potential candidates,” the ministry said in a Facebook post, adding that the poll was intended to be a model for other villages in Prek Prasap and other districts in the province where new villages have been established.
It said the village chief candidates would then be selected in the next commune council elections.
Provincial governor Va Thorn told The Post on April 4 that the candidate selection process is ongoing. He said there are at least six candidates in each village.
“In principle, the recruitment of qualified people in each village is a right that is supposed to be delegated to the commune councils. The district governor carried out the work this time because it’s the first time and it’s important that we recruit a good village chief who sincerely serves the people and understands their joy and suffering,” he said.
Thorn added that only qualified people were selected as candidates, all of whom were between the ages of 30 and 50. He felt that all of them would be capable of gaining the support of the local residents.
Civil service ministry spokesman Youk Bunna told The Post on April 4 that once the village chiefs have been selected, the commune councils would decide the appointment of other officials such as deputy village chiefs by vote.
“After we determine the village chiefs they will nominate their deputy village chiefs so that the commune councils can vote on them . . . In the end we will have village chiefs, deputy village chiefs and village council members,” he said.
Transparency International Cambodia executive director Pech Pisey hailed the move as a proactive response to the clear needs of a growing number of residents in the area.
He said the villages need capable leadership and he hoped that some younger people would be given opportunities to lead.
“The efficient provision of services is a main goal of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Civil Service, which led them to undertake the public service reforms. So far, I think that whether they are old or new the villages need to choose capable and young leaders. Young women especially should be given opportunities to participate in leading their local community,” he said.
