Adequate notice Given to Fijians Overseas if they Want to contest poll
Some of our biggest political critics and commentators are overseas for various purposes. Others reside locally and appear to spend a lot of time taking pot shots at everything and anything that moves.
Some are keyboard warriors living in cyber space and seem to have perfected the art of slanging those that do not fit into their political agenda.
The time has come to walk the talk.
It means plucking enough courage to jump into the ring and contest the 2022 General Election.
For those who reside overseas they need to make arrangements to move back here by November
The countdown started on May 26.
Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem said all interested candidates must be in the country’for at least 18 months before the issue of the Writ.
“If the writ were to be issued on the first possible date, then the 18 month period would be calculated from November 2020,” Mr Saneem said.
He added that the Fijian Elections Office conducts verifications on this information from the Immigration Department and nominations for those that do not meet the minimum requirements are rejected. With border restrictions restricting movements, Mr Saneem said there had been no changes to the law to provide a leeway for potential candidates.
The requirements are in line with the provision in The Electoral Act 2014, Section 23(5) which states that a person shall only qualify to be a ordinarily resident in Fiji for at least two years immediately before being nominated, if that person has been present and living in Fiji for an aggregate period of not less than 18 months out of the two years immediately before being nominated.
It is the same provision which had disqualified FijiFirst provisional candidate Naziah Ali-Krishna from contesting the 2018 general elections.
Democracy in this country will be stronger when we take an active part in the elections whether as candidates or party workers supporting a specific set of ideologies.
Let’s hope that we respect our diversity and differences and that at the end of the day we are working for a common goal to make Fiji stronger where no one is left behind.