International Foundation for Electoral Systems Deputy Regional Director Asia-Pacific Ms Meghan Burland;
Miss South Pacific 2026 Miss Ailava Samuel;
Influencers, guests, and members of the media;
Bula Vinaka and a Victorious Afternoon to you all.
This afternoon, we are gathered here to work together in collaboration with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems and other stakeholders to empower youth engagement, especially at a time so crucial to our nation.
It has been 21 years since we had the Local Government Elections. I imagine a good majority in the room may not have been old enough to remember when we last had it in 2005. You might ask yourself, Why do local government elections matter?
It matters because you decide who will speak for your Ward on the Municipal Council.
In taking part in the Local Government Elections, you can strengthen democracy in our country, make sure your Municipal Council is held accountable for the services delivered to your Ward, and most importantly, improve the well-being of your Ward.
We have 13 Municipalities, 2 Cities, and 11 towns. Each city and Town is divided into Wards, and currently, Fiji has 40 Wards.
It is very important that young people, like yourself, not only register but also vote in the upcoming Local Government Elections. Because in this Election, who you vote for as Councillors – they will be the ones making important decisions that affect you and the services in your Ward.
Your voice matters more than you think. This is your chance to shape the future of your community, as the decisions you make today will affect your tomorrow, so don’t sit this one out.
So, I urge you, our youth here today, to take the time to register for this election and, most importantly, to vote for someone you believe will make a difference in and for your community.
Change doesn’t happen by chance; it happens by choice.
Vinaka Vakalevu!
