The 7 members of the Electoral Commission have been announced today after being appointed by President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
Those who will make up the 7 member Electoral Commission were revealed by the Attorney General and Minister for Elections Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum this afternoon.
The Commission is made up of 7 prominent citizens from various walks of life headed by its Chair, leading legal practitioner Chen Bunn Young, who is a former President of the Fiji Law Society.
The other members are academic Professor Vijay Naidu of USP, the tourism industry leader and marketing expert James Sowane, accountant and financial advisor Jenny Seeto, the filmmaker and media specialist Larry Thomas, electoral expert and priest Father David Arms and the educationalist and civil society leader Alisi Daurewa.
Sayed-Khaiyum said each member of the Commission brings a unique perspective and set of skills to the task of supervising the first genuine democratic election in Fiji’s history.
He said the Electoral Commission will soon have their first meeting.
Under the terms of the 2013 Constitution, the Electoral Commission is responsible for the registration of voters and the conduct of free and fair elections.
It is also responsible for voter education, the registration of candidates for election, the settlement of electoral disputes and monitoring and enforcing compliance with any written law governing elections and political parties.
Under the Constitution, the Chair of the Commission needs to either be a judge or a legal practitioner who is able to become a judge, a provision fulfilled by Chen Bunn Young, a senior Lautoka-based solicitor and barrister.
The Attorney General has also announced that it will soon be seeking applications for 34 key posts in the Office.
Within those categories are a total of 230 positions.
They include the Deputy Supervisor of Elections, the Director of Electoral Procedures, the Director of Corporate Services and the Director of Communications.
Another 160 staff will be recruited in a second phase later in the year and an additional 14,000 throughout Fiji for the day of the election itself.
The Supervisor of Elections will be appointed following the first meeting of the Electoral Commission which is expected to happen soon.
14-year-old Grace Khelan has just won her second gold medal for Fiji at the New Zealand Age Group Swimming Championships. Khelan won her 100 metres Fr...
5 hours ago
The hearing on the confidentiality aspect of the Judicial Services Commission judicial review application to quash the findings of the Commission of ...
5 hours ago
Thousands of people in Vanua Levu are expected to benefit from improved road access to schools, healthcare and essential services, following the ...
5 hours ago
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed that all Cabinet Ministers have agreed to the proposed 20 percent pay cut, which is expected to be ...
5 hours ago
The counsel for Fiji Airways in the $3 million Israel charter flight case says now that the benefit of the flight has already been assumed and it is ...
6 hours ago
The recommendation by the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) to reserve the term “Fijian” exclusively for iTaukei reflects a deeply rooted cultural ...
6 hours ago
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is urging the public to remain alert, prepared, and watch out for one another as Tropical Cyclone ...
12 hours ago
Serious concerns are being raised regarding a proposed Australian company's TNG Waste-to-Energy incinerator in Saweni, Vuda, and a group of concerned ...
13 hours ago
Opposition MP, Vijay Nath has questioned by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission waited until 7:35pm last night to drop the bomb on the ...
13 hours ago
