20 September 2021
The Fijian Elections Office [FEO] conducted the first of a series of briefings for stakeholders outlining the preparations and plans for the 2022 General Election. The briefings were conducted by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission [EC] and the Supervisor of Elections [SoE].
“Today’s briefing was to the International partners and agencies based in Fiji as well as for the Fijian embassies and High Commission’s based overseas,” explained Mr. Suresh Chandra, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission. Mr Chandra further said “since 2014 we have had the practice of updating various stakeholders on the plans of the EC and the FEO in delivering the General Election.”
“We consider such briefings to be an essential component of election preparations; allowing all necessary stakeholders to be prepared for the election as well as to be aware of the various processes that we will execute before the election” said Mr. Chandra.
The SoE, Mr. Mohammed Saneem carried out an extensive presentation outlining the various plans and the processes that would be required to be put in place before the country can be ready for the General Election next year.
In explaining his presentation, Mr. Saneem said: “We are at a very critical juncture in terms of the road to 2022 and we have now managed to prepare a comprehensive plan and conceptualize that into one document with all the activities outlined so that staff of the FEO as well as the various other stakeholders can be aware of what to expect and when things in the election process will take place.”
“This is absolutely critical and we intend to run more of these seminars directly with Political Parties, Civil Society Organizations as well as a live session on the FEO Facebook page to increase the amount of election related information out there,” Mr Saneem said.
“We will be doing the live session for the General Public on the 24th of September from 11 am and anyone who is interested can link into the FEO Facebook page for the live feed.”
Today’s event was attended by various heads of missions and other agencies. The FEO recorded more than 80 participants to the virtual meeting.
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