Statement by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission
Mr Mukesh Nand
Handover Ceremony for Indelible Ink
Date: 04/10/22
Time: 10:30 am
The High Commissioner of India to Fiji, His Excellency Shri P.S Karthigeyan
Supervisor of Elections, Mr Mohammed Saneem,
Invited guests,
Ladies and gentleman,
Bula Vinaka and a very good morning to you.
I take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to you all to our event this morning.
Ladies and gentleman, it is a significant occasion for us today as the Fijian Elections Office is receiving 5,500 bottles of Indelible Ink, from the High Commission of India to be used for the 2022 General Election.
This marks the third election in which India has assisted us by providing Indelible Ink which will be used to place a mark on a voter’s finger to indicate that they have voted.
Ladies and gentlemen, the Indelible Ink is a critical element of Fiji’s voting process because it serves as a confirmation of a vote.
It also verifies and ensures that a person is able to only vote once therefore helping uphold the principle of ‘One person, One vote, One value’.
The 5,500 bottles that we are receiving today amount to approximately $320,000 and on behalf of my Commission and the Fijian Elections Office, I would like to thank the High Commission of India in Fiji as well as the Government of India for their generous assistance towards this election.
Ladies and gentlemen, India’s relations with Fiji in all spheres are excellent and we share a very close bond. India remains a committed development partner and is assisting us in promoting participatory democracy and election administration in our country.
The Indian High Commission and the Government of India have stood as a strong pillar of support for us throughout the years and it is a relationship that we truly value and hold in high regard.
Ladies and gentleman, the announcement of the election date is imminent and with the handover ceremony today, we are going one step further in our election preparations. The Electoral Commission and the FEO are doing everything to ensure that our preparations are on par to deliver a free, fair and credible election.
I take this opportunity to once again thank the Indian Government and the Indian High Commission for their assistance in providing the indelible ink.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is your job and mine to carry the indelible ink-marked on our finger with national pride as it symbolizes loyalty and patriotism. We must take ownership and work towards a fair general election.
Thank you, Vinaka Vakalevu.