Constitutional lawyer Jon Apted criticized the Government for hastily implementing the Local Government (Amendment) Act 2023, which he believes improperly aligns local government election rules with those for parliamentary elections in Fiji. During a panel discussion hosted by Dialogue Fiji on the topic of “Women Participation in a Local Government Election,” Apted emphasized the distinct nature of local government elections compared to their parliamentary counterparts.
According to Apted, the Amendment Act mandates that candidates in local government elections must either be nominated by a political party or stand as independents. He highlighted significant differences historically between elections in large cities and those in smaller towns.
In larger cities like Suva, Lautoka, and Nadi, Apted noted that political parties fiercely compete for resources related to public services such as street lighting and waste management contracts, attracting candidates primarily for financial gain. Conversely, in smaller towns, political parties typically lack sufficient appeal, leading local ratepayers to focus on genuinely addressing community concerns in a democratic manner.
Apted argued that the new law creates significant obstacles for candidates seeking to be nominated for local government elections. He expressed that the existing Amendment Act is unsuitable and poses a barrier by complicating the election process. “It will be very difficult to organize or predict how to participate if the rules are unclear, creating major challenges for all,” he concluded.