The Chairman of the Centre for Democracy & Dialogue, Mr Nemani Buresova;
The Executive Director, Mr Nilesh Lal;
Representatives of Misereor and Development Partners;
Senior Government Officials and Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Representatives of Political Parties and Civil Society Organisations;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Ara Na Yadra and a victorious morning to you all.
It is a pleasure to join you for the launch of the AI & Your Campaign Toolkit and the Empowering Fiji’s Women in Politics Candidate Hub.
I acknowledge the Centre for Democracy & Dialogue and Misereor for supporting these initiatives, which come at an important time as Fiji prepares for its next General Election.
At the heart of every credible election is public trust. Trust in the information voters receive, trust in the electoral process, and trust that every eligible Fijian can exercise their democratic rights freely and confidently. Today, artificial intelligence presents both opportunities and challenges to that trust.
Technology can improve communication, accessibility and the sharing of information. However, it can also be misused to create fabricated images, manipulated videos, cloned voices and false information about electoral processes. A single misleading message circulated through social media can create confusion long before the facts are established. This is why responsible communication and information verification are more important than ever.
The AI & Your Campaign Toolkit contributes to this important discussion by highlighting the risks associated with artificial intelligence and encouraging responsible practices.
I wish to emphasise three simple principles:
First, verify before sharing. Information should be checked for accuracy, regardless of whether it supports our personal or political views.
Second, respond responsibly. When misinformation is encountered, establish the facts and use appropriate channels to address it.
Third, compete with integrity. Political competition should be based on genuine ideas and policies, not deception, intimidation or the manipulation of information.
I also acknowledge the launch of the Empowering Fiji’s Women in Politics Candidate Hub. Women’s meaningful participation is essential to an inclusive democratic process. We must recognise that women in political and public life can face particular challenges, including online harassment, intimidation and harmful digital content.
Technology must never become another barrier to their participation. Initiatives that improve access to information and encourage women’s participation can make a valuable contribution to strengthening our democracy.
As Supervisor of Elections, I reaffirm the Fijian Elections Office’s commitment to independence, impartiality and electoral integrity.
Our responsibility is to administer electoral processes in accordance with the law and ensure that voters have access to accurate and reliable electoral information.
I encourage candidates, political parties and members of the public to verify information concerning voter registration, polling arrangements and other electoral procedures through official FEO communication channels.
Protecting the integrity of electoral information is not the responsibility of the FEO alone. It requires the collective commitment of political parties, civil society, the media and every voter.
As we prepare for the forthcoming General Election, let us ensure that emerging technologies strengthen our democratic processes rather than undermine them.
In closing, I congratulate the Centre for Democracy & Dialogue and acknowledge Misereor for supporting these initiatives. May today’s launch encourages greater awareness, responsible communication and informed participation in Fiji’s democratic processes.
With these remarks, it is my pleasure to officially launch the Electoral Integrity Toolkit: AI & Your Campaign and the Empowering Fiji’s Women in Politics Candidate Hub. Vinaka vakalevu, and thank you.
