Elections Office ready to train Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers

The Fijian Elections Office says they are ready to begin training Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers for this year’s Election.

This was highlighted by the Acting Director Strategic Development and Communications of the Elections Office Edwin Nand who says that these elections officials will have a one-day training program from this Thursday to the 3rd of next month.

Nand says they are targeting 25 participants for each training session and based on the number of polling stations they will be training around 4,500 Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers.

He says this week the Fijian Elections Office expect to collectively train 625 officials from Thursday to Saturday from 7.30am to 5pm at the locations which are as follows, the Fiji National Councils for Disabled Persons Office, Kshatriya Hall, Studio 6 Conference room, Nausori Village Hall, Sila Central High School, Lautoka Civic Centre, Nadi Civic Centre, and Kshatriya Hall, in Labasa.

Nand confirms that following the end of the recruitment drive, the Elections Office has received 17,016 application which exceeded their required number by 16.

He says they had begun half-day training and from this, they have identified individuals who qualify for training for Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers.

Nand says the appointment will only be made based on the test results and those that score 85% and above.

He says 4,500 officials have scored 85 percent and above.

He says following the completion of training, they will issue contracts to Election Officials where the Presiding Officers and

Assistant Presiding Officers will receive their contracts from 17th to 24th March.

Nand says other Election Officials including Venue Queue Controllers, Inside Queue Controllers, Identification Officers, Ballot Paper Issuers, Ballot Box Guard will receive their contracts from 5th to 16th March.