5 May 2011

Candidates for village seats in Niue haven't taken up free air time - BCN

8:13 am on 5 May 2011

The head of the Broadcasting Commission of Niue says none of the candidates running in village seats has taken up the opportunity for free air time ahead of this weekend's general election.

One thousand and 50 voters have registered for the poll to select the new 20 person parliament.

Six village seat MPs have been returned unopposed, leaving another eight village seats and the six common roll seats to be decided this Saturday.

The manager of BCN, Trevor Tiakia, says each candidate gets up to five minutes free air time on both local television and radio.

But he says only the common roll candidates have done so.

"TV advertising and radio advertising is for all candidates including those from the villages but at the moment candidates standing for the village seats, we haven't had any candidates for the tv and radio airtime. I think they do all their lobbying in the villages but for the common role they have to appeal all the electors on the island."

The manager of BCN, Trevor Tiakia.