Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga has reassured the Fijian Elections Office and the Electoral Commission that he plans to swiftly address the backlog and challenges they are currently facing.
Speaking in Parliament, Turaga mentioned that he has been informed about the significant challenges the Electoral Commission encounters in terms of administrative support. He attributed these challenges to the residual effects of the previous administration.
“The challenges facing them are unfortunate. As the line Minister, I aim to resolve these challenges soon. The Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office should work together harmoniously,” Turaga stated.
Turaga noted that the FEO has been allocated $7.4 million for its operations for the upcoming financial year.
He also highlighted that the Electoral Commission is an independent, non-partisan authority responsible for voter registration 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 representative of the people’s views,” Turaga added.