Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga has reassured the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) and the Electoral Commission that he intends to promptly address the backlog and challenges they are facing.
In a statement to Parliament, Turaga mentioned that he has been informed about the significant challenges the Electoral Commission encounters in terms of administrative support. He attributed these difficulties to an administrative hangover from the previous government.
“The challenges they are facing are unfortunate. As the responsible Minister, my goal is to resolve these issues soon. Ideally, the Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office should be working together harmoniously,” stated Turaga.
Turaga highlighted that the FEO has been allocated $7.4 million for its operations in the upcoming financial year. He also pointed out that the Electoral Commission is an independent and non-partisan authority tasked with registering voters and conducting free and fair elections as per the laws governing elections in Fiji.
“I commend them for their dedication and sacrifices to ensure that our electoral laws and administration are transparent, efficient, effective, and truly represent the people’s views,” Turaga concluded.