ESAG convenes Election Security Risk Assessment workshop

The Electoral Security Advisory Group which includes the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, the Fiji Police Force, the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, and the Fijian Elections Office convened the Election Security Risk Assessment Workshop at the Novotel in Lami.

In opening the workshop, the Supervisor of Elections and Chairperson of the ESAG, Ana Mataiciwa, reminded participants that trust is the foundation of democracy.

Mataiciwa says the people of Fiji trust them to ensure that their votes are cast without fear, counted without compromise, and protected against any form of threat, whether physical, cyber, or procedural.

She says that trust cannot be taken for granted and it is earned through vigilance, professionalism, and collective responsibility.

Mataiciwa says the workshop will focus on assessing security risks before, during, and after the election period, developing practical, tested mitigation strategies with clearly defined roles for each ESAG member agency and strengthening accountability, discipline, and a shared purpose to protect Fiji’s democratic process.

She stresses the 2-day workshop brings together senior representatives from security and enforcement agencies to assess potential security risks to Fiji’s electoral process, design mitigation strategies, and strengthen inter-agency coordination ahead of upcoming elections.

FICAC Acting Commissioner Lavi Rokoika welcomes the ESAG Election Security Risk Assessment Workshop as a valuable platform to enhance lawful, secure, and trusted elections in Fiji.

Rokoika says the agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption-related electoral offences, FICAC will provide legal and investigative expertise, conduct on-the-ground monitoring, and handle complaints in close collaboration with partner agencies throughout the electoral period.

She says they will look to this workshop to establish a common national definition of electoral security, agree on a Security Risk Register, and develop a draft Electoral Risk Management Plan, along with clear protocols for information sharing, rapid incident response, and public communications.

Rokoika says they will also support efforts to discourage unlawful campaign conduct, prevent the misuse of public resources, and address emerging cyber-enabled risks while fully respecting each institution’s operational independence. Above all, our aim is to ensure that every voter can participate without fear and with complete confidence in the integrity of the process.