Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says voter burnout is a real risk if we are holding Local Government elections, a constitutional referendum and general elections all within a tight six months period.
While announcing the deferment of the Local Government elections, Rabuka says having all these in six months would stretch our resources, our electoral machinery and our people.
Rabuka says when citizens are asked to the polls too frequently, in a short space of time, fatigue sets in, participation drops and the quality of our democracy suffers.
The Prime Minister says add to all those costs not only to the government but to the people of Fiji, he will not allow it to happen.
He stresses it is not a retreat from their commitment to local government democracy but a decisive and responsible call, a strategic pause to ensure we get it right under the prevailing conditions.
Rabuka says the Local Government elections will be held after the general elections.
