The Ministry of Local Government in Fiji conducted two consultations to prepare for the upcoming Municipal Elections, as confirmed by Minister Maciu Nalumisa. These meetings focused on determining the number of councilors for each town and city, along with their respective wards.
During the first session, representatives from currently registered political parties participated, followed by discussions with municipal councils’ Special Administrators and Actings Chief Executives. The objective of the consultations was to establish policies and methodologies for fairly allocating councilors in accordance with population distribution and international electoral standards.
Assistant minister Nalumisa noted that municipal councils will also be carrying out their consultations, with guidance from the Ministry, in the weeks ahead. This strategy aims to ensure comprehensive community engagement and representation.
This preparation comes in light of the government’s commitment to upholding democratic processes, reflecting an optimistic perspective toward empowering local communities and enhancing civic participation. The upcoming municipal elections are viewed as a critical step towards restoring local governance, which has been absent since the last elections in 2005. Discussions surrounding the necessity for voter education and transparency have heightened, especially given the complexities of Fiji’s socio-political landscape.
The government aims to hold these elections as a means to revitalize local governance, while also fostering a culture of accountability that allows citizens to have a direct influence on community decisions. With these proactive steps, there is hope that the elections will lead to a more engaged populace and stronger local governance frameworks across Fiji.
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