Fijians are urged to seek consultation regarding the Local Government Act, according to former elections supervisor and constitutional lawyer Jon Apted. He criticized the government’s approach, which replaced outdated local government provisions with rules similar to those used in national elections, leading to confusion about the functionality of the new system.
Apted highlighted that local government elections differ significantly from national elections and stated that despite amendments made to the law last year, many regulatory details concerning local government elections remain unresolved. He emphasized that without understanding the rules governing these elections, it becomes challenging to organize and plan effectively.
During a panel discussion hosted by Dialogue Fiji, Apted noted that public input was lacking in the amendments to the Act last year. He argued that it is essential for the public, political aspirants, and their parties to have a voice regarding the rules for candidacy and polling processes.
He suggested that candidacy in local elections should not be limited to political parties and independents. Rather, he called for a reconsideration of regulations to allow local ratepayer groups, especially in smaller towns, to participate.
Apted reiterated that the current legal framework has been amended but remains incomplete, which leaves uncertainty about its operation. He stressed the need for clarity on the rules to enable proper preparation for upcoming elections.