Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga has reassured the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) and the Electoral Commission of his commitment to swiftly addressing the backlog and challenges they face.
Speaking in Parliament, Turaga mentioned that the Electoral Commission is experiencing significant issues related to administrative support. He attributed these challenges to the lingering effects of the previous government’s administration.
“The challenges facing them are unfortunate. As the line Minister, I am eager to resolve these issues as soon as possible. It is essential that the Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office complement each other and work in tandem,” Turaga stated.
He noted that the FEO has been allocated $7.4 million for its operations for the upcoming financial year.
Turaga also emphasized the role of the Electoral Commission as an independent non-partisan authority responsible for registering voters and conducting free and fair elections in accordance with Fiji’s election laws.
“I commend them for their hard work and sacrifices to ensure our electoral laws and administration are transparent, efficient, effective, and truly represent the people’s views,” Turaga added.