The Acting Deputy Supervisor of Elections;
The Manager Learning and Development;
Training Facilitators;
Training participants;
Members of the Media; and
Fijians tuning in to our live broadcast.
Ara na Yadra, and a Victorious Morning to you all.
Today marks another important step forward in our preparations for the upcoming General Election. I am particularly pleased to welcome you, the workshop participants who will serve as Election Officials, because you are the first group to commence what will now become a nationwide rollout of Election Officials Training across Fiji.
A total of 13,861 Fijians have passed the Computer-Based Test, and of these 13,861, the FEO team is verifying documentation for confirmation of training; this is an ongoing process.
From here in Suva, this training will extend across our four divisions as we prepare Election Officials to serve during the upcoming General Election. This is a significant national undertaking, and today, that journey begins with you.
This training will continue from today until November and will see a total of 70 Field Trainers conducting approximately 720 training sessions nationwide.
I acknowledge our Learning and Development Department and our Field Trainers for the tremendous work undertaken to bring us to this stage.
To our Election Officials: your selection comes with an important responsibility. When the General Election comes, you will be among the thousands of men and women entrusted with delivering the election on the ground. You will be the face of the Fijian Elections Office at our polling venues and polling stations, and for many voters, you will be their direct experience of the electoral process.
That is why this training matters.
The laws, manuals and Standard Operating Procedures provide the framework, but it is you who must put them into practice; accurately, consistently, professionally, and impartially.
Every procedure you learn, every scenario you practise and every question you ask during this training is preparing you for the moment when it will matter most.
Our preparation for the General Election has already begun. We are preparing our systems. We are preparing our operations. And through this nationwide training programme, we are preparing our people.
As the first participants in this national rollout, I encourage you to set the standard for those who will follow. Participate fully. Ask questions. Learn from your Facilitators. Most importantly, leave this training confident in your role and ready to serve.
Because when Election Day comes, Fiji will depend on each of us to know our responsibility and to perform it well. To our Election Officials, thank you for choosing to serve. Thank you for becoming part of our FEO family for the upcoming General Election.
The work ahead of us is significant, but together, we will be ready.
With that, it gives me great pleasure to officially declare the nationwide Election Officials Training programme open.
Vinaka Vakalevu, and I wish you all a successful training.
