PRESS STATEMENT
7th June 2007 

REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ELECTION TIMETABLE FOR FIJI RELEASED 

The Report of the Independent Technical Assessment of the Election Timetable for Fiji commissioned by the Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji Joint Working Group on the Situation in Fiji has been released today, after the Working Group discussed the Report at its seventh meeting in Suva, Fiji.

The Assessment Team reached the following conclusions: 

• Before Fiji’s next parliamentary elections, there should be a redistribution of constituency boundaries following the 2007 census, an update of the registers of voters, and voter education and information programmes. 
• From a technical point of view, a parliamentary election in Fiji could be held in the first quarter of 2009. However, if the Bureau of Statistics has additional resources to allow it to bring forward the release of provisional and final population figures from the census, the election could be held in November 2008.  
• There should be minimal changes to current electoral provisions and procedures before the next election. Changes to election provisions should be confined to the reinstatement of the voter’s clear intention as the overriding consideration in determining the validity of a vote, to prohibit the use of State resources for election campaign activities, and to provide for offences concerning disclosure of donations. 
• The Electoral Commission should issue a regulation establishing an interim system of disclosure of significant donations made to registered parties and to election candidates. 
• Remaining appointments to the Constituency Boundaries Commission, the Electoral Commission and the Supervisor of Elections should be made without delay. It is vital that there is continuity in the staffing of the Elections Office, for which the Interim Government of Fiji should make continuing budgetary provision without delay. 
• International technical assistance should be provided for the boundary redistribution, voter registration update, voter education and information programmes, and to the Electoral Commission and the Election Office.

The Joint Working Group was mandated by the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting held in Port Vila, Vanuatu in March, after its consideration of recommendations by the Forum Eminent Persons Group (EPG) which visited Fiji following the 5 December 2006 coup. 

On 5 April 2007, the Working Group agreed that an independent technical assessment should be undertaken of the minimum reasonable time required to prepare for and conduct the next parliamentary elections in Fiji, under conditions that would ensure such elections were free, fair and credible. Such a study should also consider the resources required for the process and the external assistance that might be necessary to ensure the timetable can be met.

The Working Group’s decision followed the earlier recommendation of the Eminent Persons Group that an election should be held within eighteen months to two years, if not sooner. The Interim Government of Fiji had proposed that elections could be held in 36 months, but said that it was willing to consider an earlier timeframe under certain conditions.

The assessment team, which was engaged in May, consisted of Dr Paul Harris (New Zealand, co-team leader), Mr Barrie Sweetman (Fiji, co-team leader), Dr Kesaia Seniloli (Fiji) and Mr Bruce Hatch (Canada).

The Report will now be considered by Forum member governments. 


(Ends)

For more information, contact Johnson Honimae, Media Officer, Forum Secretariat, ph (679) 331 2600, or email