31 Dec 2013

Fiji expected to name election supervisor

8:26 am on 31 December 2013

Fiji is expected to name by today the body tasked to oversee the elections promised for next September.

The minister responsible for the elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said earlier this month that plans for the polls were on track and the Constitutional Offices Commission would be appointed by the end of December.

That Commission will then recommend to the President the members of the Electoral Commission as well as a choice for Election Supervisor.

The Fiji regime had appointed Felicity Heffernan as supervisor in 2008 but shortly afterwards her post was vacated because the regime leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, reneged on his promise to hold elections in 2009.

According to the constitution released by the regime this year, the Constitutional Offices Commission is to include the leader of the opposition.

However, as a result of the 2006 military coup, there is no parliament.