Fiji Welcomes UN Needs Assessment Mission for Upcoming Elections

SUVA, Fiji, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Fijian Government today accepted an offer from the United Nations to send a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) to Fiji ahead of the planned Parliamentary elections.

Fijian Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum stipulated that the composition of the mission must be politically neutral and unbiased with regard to Fiji, so it can provide an objective technical needs assessment for Fiji to conduct free and fair elections.

The NAM, which will be conducted by the Electoral Assistance Division of the UN Secretariat in New York, is slated to take place in early March. It will provide technical assessment of Fiji's needs, such as ballot boxes, staffing and logistical preparation, among other considerations.

The move follows the Fijian Government's recent selection of the Canadian firm CODE Inc. as Fiji's vendor for electronic voter registration (EVR).

Fiji continues to follow the recommendations of the European Union's report on Fiji's 2006 elections, which cited irregularities with voter registration and voting practices, such as 101% voter turnout in one constituency, and the disenfranchisement of certain voter groups.

Fiji has sent out invitations to the international community to participate in the EVR process by way of financial assistance; however, so far no countries or multi-lateral agencies have opted to participate.

SOURCE The Republic of Fiji