FEO to Conduct Union Elections
The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) will conduct the elections of office holders for the National Union of Workers. This is after a meeting with the current general secretary Felix Anthony. The procedure is part of Section 154 of the Electoral Act.
In light of the requirements in the law, the nominations for national president, two national vice presidents, national treasurer and general secretary will have to be submitted to the FEO.
The FEO further highlighted this it was imperative that the nominations process was handled independently because the general secretary, who has conduct of the Union office, was also up for election.
To ensure that the Union’s Constitutional timeframes for the process was not impacted, the FEO has agreed to adhere to the notice already issued by the Union in both newspapers on 08 August 2020.
“We have agreed to move the receiving of Nominations to a neutral venue and for the administrative processing of nominations by the FEO Returning Officer. The Vetting of the nominations as required under the Union Constitution will still be done by the Union and FEO will thereafter handle the election process through postal ballot if any of the positions are contested” clarified Mr. Mohammed Saneem, Supervisor of Elections. The nominations, which close on August 15, are to be submitted to:
■ Lautoka Office - Amali Kuna-bilo at the FEO Lautoka Voter Services Centre situated at Vitogo Parade, Lautoka
■ Labasa Office – Mohammed Fazil at the FEO Voter Services Centre situated in the Legal Aid Building opposite Labasa Bus Stand
■ Suva – FEO Headquarters situated on 59 High Street, Toorak, Suva.