Samoa, Vanuatu lead Forum Observer team to 2024 Solomon Islands Joint Election
At the invitation of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) has deployed an election observer mission to the Solomon Islands to observe the upcoming Joint Election on 17 April 2024. The Forum Election Observer team is led by Mr Ali’ioaiga Feturi Elisaia, High Commissioner of Samoa to Fiji, with Mr Lawson Samuel, Secretary of the Law Reform Commission, Ministry of Justice and Social Welfare of Vanuatu, supported by PIF Secretariat staff.
PIF Secretary General Henry Puna welcomed the the opportunity to convene the observer team, adding the importance of Pacific nations, sharing common insights and appreciation for the Pacific context, to observe the election and convey observations through a publicly available post-election report.
“The Forum’s first ever election observer mission was to the Solomon Islands in 2001, and I welcome the Solomon Islands’ consistent invitation to domestic and international observers to participate in this sacred democratic process,” said SG Puna. “From the very beginning we’ve known just how unique elections in our part of the world are, especially in a region that has a very large Ocean area, where many of our populations are based in remote or rural communities far from urban centres. Our Blue Pacific continent deeply values cultural and traditional customs, as well as democratic values and principles.”
The Forum Team will observe polling on election day, and the count. They will meet with a wide range of stakeholders including the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission, election candidates, Government officials, and civil society representatives throughout the course of the mission.