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May 27th, 2005 Government will be tabling a Supplementary Appropriation Bill in the current sitting of Parliament. The Bill will seek Parliament’s approval for supplementary appropriation of $10 million to fund additional expenditure for the Elections Office. These include undertaking a massive voter registration exercise, the reconstitution of the Constituency Boundaries Commission (CBC) and the construction of extra ballot boxes and voting booths. This funding request cannot be adequately covered from the approved redeployment exercise, hence the decision for supplementary appropriation from Parliament. Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister for Finance and National Planning, Ratu Jone Kubuabola. Ratu Jone said that a lot of preparatory works will need to be undertaken this year, to prepare the country for the General Elections. He said that the CBC has been reconstituted with the primary purpose to consider the boundaries of the open constituencies in the urban and peri-urban areas, with the view of realigning some of the boundaries, given the recent mass migration of voters from the rural to urban areas. The Commission has the powers to realign boundaries, and is working in conjunction with the Bureau of Statistics to undertake this task. Ratu Jone said that voter survey and registration will involve a nationwide survey from August to the end of the year, to register voters on a house-to-house basis. “This exercise is critical in order to prepare a new electoral roll for the 2006 General Elections. This would be undertaken within 14 days, covering 1663 enumerator areas. Four officials will be assigned to each enumerator area.” He said extensive works will also be undertaken during the pre-registration period. This involves the training of Registration Officers, undertaking an extensive awareness campaign and the printing of the necessary forms and rolls. Ratu Jone also said that the Elections Office will need to build 8,000 new ballot boxes, 12,200 stationery boxes and 4,400 voting booths. He said this work is planned to be undertaken this year, so that officials can concentrate on compiling the electoral rolls and carry out intensive voter education and awareness next year. Ratu Jone said that the Elections Office intends to carry out polling in 3 days, compared to 7 days in the last General Election, and this necessitates the building of additional ballot boxes and voting booths. -End- |
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