Today a Historic Day in Nalidi, says Tinai

Serai Tinai,72, says she is excited she will be part of history today. Ms Tinai, believed to be the oldest person in Nalidi Village, one of the country’s remote polling venues, can’t wait to cast her vote.

This is the first time that Nalidi, nestled on the foot of the hills on the Wainibuka side of the border with Ra, is a polling venue.

She and other villagers interviewed yesterday thanked the Fijian Elections Office for making the decision to have a pre-polling venue at their village.

Before the 2014 election, villagers had to hire a carrier which cost them $80 to reach the next polling station, she said.

She hopes that whoever wins the election will ensure that iTaukei land is safe. "Land is our treasure," Ms Tinai said. "This Government has done a lot of good things for the people and I believe that they can do better.

"Our children are important. The next Government must ensure that before making decisions they should ensure that our children will benefit from their decision.”

Adrea Canakaicina, 66, said he was looking forward to the pre-poll today.

"Before it was hard because we had to go to Soa village to vote. We had to look for $80 so that a carrier can take the old people from the village so that they can vote," Mr Canakaicina said.

"The young people had to wake up very early and walk so that they can reach the polling station to vote.

"I am looking forward to cast my vote tomorrow.

Our children are important. The next Government must ensure that before making decisions they should ensure that our children will benefit from their decision serai tinai nalidi villager

This year the competition is stronger than the previous years. We are more informed because we get to listen to what the party leaders have to say through the radio.

"The parties have campaigned and I think they have done enough and wait for the results which will determine who will run the Government in the next four years."

First-time voter, Eroni Turaga, 21, said he was looking forward to vote.

He said only two parties, the National Federation Party and SODELPA had been to their village to campaign

He said he liked some things he heard like the $5 minimum wage proposed by some Opposition candidates. The FijiFirst Government says a proper study needs to be done to make sure an unrealistic minimum wage does not cause job loses.

"I plead with whoever wins the election to ensure that they do what they promised the people. I don't want a Government that will forget the people once they get elected.”