The government has updated the outdated Local Government provisions by adopting rules similar to those used for parliamentary elections in Fiji, according to Jon Apted, a former supervisor of elections and constitutional lawyer.
Speaking at a panel discussion titled “Breaking Barriers: Increasing Female Participation in Local Government Elections in Fiji,” organized by Dialogue Fiji, Mr. Apted described this change as a “huge mistake.” He emphasized that Local Government elections are fundamentally different from parliamentary elections, noting that many laws essential for governing Local Government elections have yet to be established.
“There are two sets of barriers that exist now,” he stated, referring to the existing law, which underwent amendments last year, and the absence of comprehensive regulations for Local Government elections.
Mr. Apted expressed the challenges posed by unclear guidelines, saying, “We don’t know today how the system is going to work. It is very, very difficult to organize and predict how you’re going to play the game if you don’t know the rules of the game. This is a huge barrier for everybody.”
He remarked on the government’s hasty amendment to the Local Government Act and reiterated concerns he raised at a Dialogue Fiji forum, noting that the subsequent legislation did not reflect the discussions held.
Moreover, he highlighted a lack of community interest in Local Government elections, asserting that there is a substantial need to raise awareness about the significance of Local Government voting and to encourage public participation.