Election observers receive accreditation from Electoral Commission

Fifty people were at the multi-international observer teams briefing at The Melanesian Hotel in Port Vila Wednesday morning. They represent the Commonwealth, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the European Union, and the governments of Australia, New Zealand, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

During the briefing the observer teams for the Vanuatu election tomorrow were welcomed and issued their accreditation by the Chairman of the Electoral Commission, John Kilion Taleo, who expressed surprise at the large number of multi-national observers compared to the 2012 election when he said there were only few from Australia.

The Acting Director General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Cherol Ala, told the observers it had been a major challenge organizing this snap election at such short notice with less than ten staff members, but that they were duty-bound under the law to ensure the election was held on time.

She revisited the issue of politics and ongoing instability in government over the past twenty-five years of the country, which culminated with the current situation that has led to the jailing of 14 MPs and the President finally dissolving Parliament and this snap election called.

“Incredible pressure, put on the small number of staff to ensure the election is held in accordance to the law, led to the Principal Electoral Officer not being able to be with us today,” she added. The Principal Electoral Officer, Charles Vatu was taken during the holding of the Sanma Provincial election last month and is now recovering at home. And the Acting DG said because of their duty to the law — the Representation of the People’s Act that governs election in the country, they had to rely on staff within the Ministry to ensure the election was held on time.

“We are grateful to our partners who have always stood by us when we needed help and today, the great number of you here is testament to this generosity,” Acting DG Ala said. She singled out particularly Australia and New Zealand.

“You will observe the election, ensure it is free and fair and make recommendations on how we can improve our electoral processes.”

A representative of the Vanuatu Police Force informed the observers that apart from the situation reported on Tanna about proxy card concerns from political parties, the security situation in the country for the election is good. And there is generally good weather also forecast for the next seven days including tomorrow and the weekend, a representative of the Meteorological Services Department.

Some members of the multi-national observer teams will be traveling to Santo, Tanna and one or two other main islands of the country to observe the election.

262 candidates are contesting the election with 200,159 registered voters listed to cast their votes tomorrow when the polls open at 7.30 in the morning at 350 polling stations throughout the country, 11 of them in Port Vila.