Opening Remarks on behalf of the PIANZEA Network at the BRIDGE Workshop

EC Chairperson: Ms. Barbara Malimali

Tuesday 19 September 2023

Mr. Alpha Bah UN Resident Coordinator Officer in Charge;
Mr. Henry Cocker Acting Director for Governance and Engagement Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat;
Fellow Senior Representatives and Officials from the PIANZEA Network;
Representatives of Government Organisations, Pacific and UN Agencies and CSO’s;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Ni sa Bula Vinaka, Pacific Greetings and a very good morning to each and every one of you.

I am delighted and honoured to speak to you all this morning as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Republic of Fiji and on behalf of the PIANZEA Network, to express our heartfelt appreciation for your presence here in Suva over the next few days. Whether you’ve travelled a short distance or crossed the vast Pacific Ocean to be here, your commitment is deeply cherished. I kindly ask that we acknowledge one another’s dedication with a hearty round of applause (pause for applause).

As we assemble here today, we find ourselves in a remarkable position—an opportunity to share experiences, knowledge, and expertise, all with the aim of fortifying the electoral processes that form the bedrock of our respective democracies. This workshop is a testament to the collaborative spirit and partnerships that define the Pacific region. I am confident that the insights and discussions that will unfold in the days ahead will be invaluable in our collective endeavour to enhance electoral integrity and inclusivity.

Our region, marked by its rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and geographic complexities, presents us with unique electoral dynamics. However, it is precisely within our diversity that we discover our greatest strengths and resilience. The commitment demonstrated by each electoral management body and our respected stakeholders present here, in ensuring elections that are free, fair, and transparent, mirrors our shared dedication to democratic ideals. It is a commitment that transcends borders and unites us in a common purpose.

In conclusion, I extend my sincere gratitude to all participants, our facilitators, and the inter-agency organizers and secretariat for making this workshop a reality. Let us seize this opportunity to reinforce our bonds of cooperation and chart a course that leads to even more robust and resilient electoral systems.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your unwavering dedication to democracy is deeply appreciated, and I eagerly anticipate the productive discussions and collaborations that await us. Together, we possess the potential to leave a lasting imprint on the democratic landscape of the Pacific region.

Thank you and Vinaka vaka levu.

Statement by the Chairperson Ms Barbara Malimali of the Electoral Commission
Closing of the EC Induction Workshop
Suva
16 August 2023

I rise to thank all Commissioners present here today for availing yourselves of our 3-day workshop. I understand that you all have busy schedules, however, each one of us has been appointed to this high office as a result of our various expertise and experiences, with the confidence that we each will carry out our duties with impartiality and integrity. With that being said, I thank you Commissioners once again for your contributions and questions over the course of our Introductory Workshop.

I also wish to acknowledge our donor partners who have contributed towards this Introductory workshop. Our thanks to MFAT for their continued partnership with the Electoral Commission. And to our sister body, the NZEC who are represented here through our facilitators Deidre Brookes and Karen Beggs, we’d like to acknowledge you for your hard work which can be seen in how you carried this workshop efficiently and effectively, so thank you.

Over the 3 days, we have been able to familiarise ourselves with the various processes of the Electoral Commission and we’ve come to the realisation that there is a huge task ahead of us in terms of legislative reform and review.

Fellow Commissioners, ladies and gentlemen let me finish by saying that you have all worked hard, but in fact, the real work only starts now. This is the beginning of our concerted efforts to work together with our partners to support the capacity needs of this Commission, which will ultimately serve the needs of our people.

Thank You.
Vinaka Vakalevu
Dhanyavad.

Statement by the Chairperson Ms Barbara Malimali of the Electoral Commission

 Opening of the EC Induction Workshop

Suva
14 August 2023

Fellow Commissioners,

Bula Vinaka!

I take great pleasure in according to each of you a warm welcome. As you all are aware, through the recent appointment of Dr Atu Emberson-Bain, we now have a full complement of Commissioners.

I wish to highlight that as members of the Electoral Commission, our duties are enshrined under the Constitution; therefore, it is crucial that we align ourselves to our roles stipulated under section 75 of the Constitution. I am confident that over the course of this Workshop, we will be able to familiarize ourselves with our roles and conduct ourselves in a manner that is expected of this office.

As appointees of the President, it is imperative that you fully know your duties so that they can be executed accordingly. Therefore, we must strive to work collectively as members of the EC to best serve the interests of all Fijians.

I also wish to extend our welcome and appreciation to Ms Deirdre Brooks and Ms. Karen Beggs who is here to facilitate our Induction Workshop. Ms Brooks and Ms Beggs are also representatives from the New Zealand Electoral Commission (NZEC).

We are truly thankful to the NZEC and MFAT for facilitating this Induction Workshop and we look forward to more collaborations in the near future.

With that being said ladies and gentlemen; my fellow Commissioners without taking any more of your time, I officially open our 3-day Workshop.

Vinaka Vakalevu

Statement by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission

Mr Mukesh Nand

Declaration of Results

19/12/22 at 1.00pm 

Fellow members of the Electoral Commission, 

The Supervisor of Elections,

Invited Guests,

Members of the media,

Ladies and gentlemen.

Bula Vinaka and a very warm welcome to you all.

We have received the results from the Supervisor of Elections. We congratulate him and his team for another successful election. 

In accordance with the law, the Electoral Commission[‘EC’] then proceeded to determine the seats that are to be allocated.

Sections 103 to 109 of the Electoral Act, 2014 are the relevant provisions for this process. The total number of votes cast in the 2022 General Election were 473,910 and as such, the threshold is calculated to be 23,696.

Based on the results of the 2022 General Election, the following Political Parties and Independent Candidates met the threshold:

In applying the D’hondt formula to determine the number of seats each Party attained, the Electoral Commission arrived at the following result: 

According to the Electoral Act, 2014 the candidates within the Parties that have won the highest votes will be entitled to allocation of seats before those with lower votes. I will now announce the names of the candidates that have been allocated seats for the next Parliament: (*read from table)

Ladies and gentlemen, the Commission’s next duty is to Return the Writ of Elections to His Excellency the President as stipulated under Section 106 (2) of the Electoral Act, 2014.

On behalf of the Electoral Commission, the Fijian Elections Office and the entire country, I offer congratulations to the candidates that have been elected into Parliament and wish them the best of luck.

Thank you very much and Vinaka Vakalevu.  

Statement by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission

Mr Mukesh Nand

After Receiving Results from the Supervisor of Elections

18/12/22 @4PM

Fellow Electoral Commission members,

The Supervisor of Elections,

Members of the Media,

Invited guests,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Bula vinaka and a very warm welcome to you all today.

The 2022 General Election took place on the 14th of December in a peaceful and conducive environment. 

My fellow Commission members and I observed voting at several polling places and were pleased with the smooth flow of operations on Election Day. Since then we have been present at the National Results Centre observing the results tabulation process.

Ladies and gentleman, I stand here today on behalf of my Commission receiving the Final National Results Tally for the 2022 General Election.

I would like to thank you, Supervisor of Elections and your team at the Fijian Elections Office for a job well done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after receiving the results of the 2022 General Election, the Electoral Commission will now retire and calculate the seat allocation for the 55 seats of the next parliament.

We intend to announce the Final list of candidates that will enter parliament at 1pm tomorrow followed by our appointment with H.E the President at 2pm when we intend to return the writ for the 2022 General Election.

Thank you and vinaka vakalevu.