Page 13 - IB JAN 2019

Political Brief - PACIFIC

Final voter list is out

HONIARA, Solomon Islands - More than 359,000 people
have registered to vote in March’s general election in Solomon
Islands.
That’s according to chief electoral officer Mose Saitala, when
releasing the final voter list early in January.
“Overall the list of electors has increased from 287,567 voters
in 2014 to 359,690 in 2019,” Saitala told reporters. “That is an
increase of 72,123 voters in the four and half years between
the first time the list was created in 2014 and the final list we
now have in 2019. Solomon Parliament Photo: RNZI Koroi Hawkins
“Based on the data, two of the three Honiara constituencies
have the highest number of voters on the final list, with Central as prescribed by Regulation,” Saitala added.
Honiara on 15,987, and East Honiara with 15,446.” He said the Biometric Voter Registration process has been long
Saitala said eight constituencies have 10,000 or more reg- and onerous and being able to get to this point of the process
istered voters. on time, despite the many challenges along the way, was a
He added the highest increase from 2014 to 2019 is West testament to the hard work and perseverance of all electoral
Honiara, with 85.58 per cent, increasing by 4,908, from 5,735 officials in the field and at the Electoral Office.
to 10,643. Meanwhile, Governor General Sir Frank Kabui is expected to
“Two constituencies have decreased in numbers. South New announce the date of the election on the first week of February.
Georgia/Rendova decreased by 376 voters (-8.09%), while Saitala.said the announcement would be made as soon as all
Small Malaita by 472 voters (-5.54%). preparatory works were completed.
“These decreases are due to population shifts and cross “We are working on ensuring that a particular polling station
border registrations,” Saitala explained. does not cater for more than 500 voters,” he said.
In terms of gender registration, 174,587 registered voters are “Where the number of voters in that area exceeds 500, we
female (48.54%); while 185,103 are male (51.46%). would consider establishing another polling station,” he added.
Saitala said the final list would be published across the coun- “Special consideration will also be made to add another poll-
try in the coming days, as well as uploaded on the Solomon ing station to specific areas where the distances between polling
Islands Electoral Commission’s website (www.siec.gov.sb). stations are too far from each other.”
“By way of pursuant to Section 50 of the Electoral Act, it He said it was most likely that all of the 856 polling stations
may also allow political parties and candidates to have access used in the 2014 general election would be used gain with an
to an ‘Extract Copy’ of the Voters’ List upon payment of a fee additional 400 polling stations..

is actually growing quite rapidly. Just in this last six months, the Legalising medicinal marijuana
Crisis Centre has had to deal with three cases where the parents Port Vila, Vanuatu - The government is looking to legalise grow-
have referred their young children to the Crisis Centre because ing medical marijuana to help boost its agricultural sector. While
they are addicts.” smoking marijuana will still be illegal in Vanuatu, the new crop
would be exported for medical use. The Council of Ministers has
Temaru faces fund abuse charges released a policy direction on cannabis to help establish an ethi-
PAPEETE, French Polynesia - French Polynesia’s pro-indepen- cal cannabis industry in the country. According to the policy, five
dence leader Oscar Temaru is to stand trial in the criminal court in licences to grow the crop will be issued over the first five years.
June for allegedly misusing public funds. Temaru has reportedly
told party leaders that he has been summoned to appear on 18 Court to decide seat
June. Currently mayor of Faaa, Temaru and two other defendants, RAROTONGA, Cook Islands - Court registrar Claudine Henry-
Heinui Lecaill and Vito Maamaatuaiahutapu, are alleged to have Anguna will refer the report she received from the Cook Islands
misspent money of the association running a local radio station Electoral Office regarding the Rakahanga seat to the Court of
Radio Tefana. The accusations stem from a public accounts audit Appeal before confirming the outcome. The seat was initially
of 2009 questioning allocations given to Radio Tefana, which is claimed by Cook Islands Party’s Toka Hagai following the general
a station asserting sovereignty rights and denouncing nuclear election. However, he was later declared “not duly elected” and
weapons tests. his election declared void by the court.

Tokelau trial for February PM identifies a successor
ATAFU, Tokelau - A legal case against Tokelau’s government will NUKU’ALOFA, Tonga - Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva says he has
continue despite two disgruntled former public servants being a person in mind who could replace him as party leader when he
ordered to pay security. Jovilisi Suveinakama and Heto Puka were steps down. Speaking exclusively to Kaniva news, the 77-year-
dealt a blow in their year-long legal case, in which they claim they old political veteran said he had picked his potential successor
were wrongfully dismissed. The two men were fired following after assessing his members’ “commitment and sacrifice” to the
investigations into the Tokelau Government’s purchase of two Paati Temokalati ‘o e ‘Otu MotuAnga’ofa (the Democracy Party).
helicopters. Tokelau’s High Court said this month the case had “I know him,” Pōhiva said, although he declined to name his
been stayed until the plaintiffs paid a total of US$6800. possible successor.

Islands Business, January 2019 13