Electoral Commission Welcomes New Chairperson, His Lordship Justice Usaia Ratuvili

The Electoral Commission today officially welcomed its newly appointed Chairperson, His Lordship Justice Usaia Ratuvili, following his appointment on 30 January 2025.

The Supervisor of Elections, Ms Ana Mataiciwa, in her capacity as Secretary to the Electoral Commission, facilitated the introductory meeting. The meeting provided an opportunity for discussions on the Commission’s strategic priorities and its role in upholding Fiji’s electoral integrity. Ms Mataiciwa also ensured that Justice Ratuvili was issued with his official laptop and phone.

As part of his introductory visit, Justice Ratuvili met with fellow Electoral Commission members, including Commissioner Nalini Singh, Commissioner Reginald Jokhan, Commissioner Nemani Mati, and Commissioner Ratu Inoke Dokonivalu. Apologies were received from Commissioner Dr Atu Emberson Bain and Commissioner Ateca Ledua.

Following the meeting, Justice Ratuvili was also introduced to the Fijian Elections Office Directors, Director Operations Ms Anaseini Senimoli, and Director Corporate Services Mr Sanjeshwar Ram.

Justice Ratuvili, currently serves as a Puisne Judge of the High Court of Fiji, brings extensive legal expertise and leadership to the Electoral Commission, reinforcing its mandate to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in Fiji.

The Electoral Commission looks forward to working under Justice Ratuvili’s leadership to further strengthen electoral processes, enhance stakeholder engagement, and promote public confidence in Fiji’s democratic system.

L-R: Commissioner Nemani Mati, Commissioner Reginald Jokhan, His Lordship Justice Usaia Ratuvili, Commissioner Nalini Singh, Commissioner Ratu Inoke Dokonivalu

L-R: EC Secretary Ms Ana Mataiciwa, Commissioner Nemani Mati, Commissioner Reginald Jokhan, His Lordship Justice Usaia Ratuvili, Commissioner Nalini Singh, Commissioner Ratu Inoke Dokonivalu

Electoral Commission and Fijian Elections Office Fulfil Legal Obligation with Submission of 2022 General Election Joint Report

The Electoral Commission [‘EC’] and the Fijian Elections Office [‘FEO’] successfully submitted the much-anticipated 2022 General Election Joint Report [‘Joint Report’] to the Office of the President and the Honourable Speaker’s Chambers on Monday, November 20, 2023.

This marks the completion of a crucial duty following the EC’s earlier challenge in meeting the submission deadline outlined in Section 14(g) of the Electoral Act 2014 due to the lack of quorum earlier in the year.

In expressing her contentment, EC Chairperson Ms. Barbara Malimali commended the diligence of the newly constituted EC in swiftly addressing the requirements, to compile and submit the Joint Report.

“The Commission is pleased to have complied with its legal obligations in respect of this report and to have collaborated with the FEO to provide His Excellency the President and the Honourable Speaker with a detailed overview of the 2022 electoral process and outcome,” said Ms. Malimali.

The Chairperson added that the Commission had responded to each of the recommendations of the Multinational Observer Group, and proposed several additional recommendations, some of which anticipated the forthcoming legislative review of electoral laws.

“In particular, the Commission has called on the Government to consider the implementation of temporary special measures to enhance gender diversity and women’s representation in Parliament, and to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the same rights and opportunities to vote and stand for election as others. These recommendations are in line with Fiji’s obligations under international law,” stated Ms. Malimali

The Acting Supervisor of Elections Ms. Ana Mataiciwa also acknowledged the accomplishment of submitting the long-awaited Joint Report.

“I am pleased to confirm that the report has been submitted to His Excellency the President and the Honourable Speaker in accordance with the law. Despite delays, the circumstances necessitated flexibility, and I extend my gratitude to the Electoral Commission for their commitment to submitting the report,” Ms. Mataiciwa stated.

The Joint Report comprehensively outlines the processes involved in the 2022 General Election. It details the legal responsibilities of both the EC and the FEO as well as their collective recommendations.

Electoral Commission Strengthens Dialogue with Political Parties through

Informal ‘Talanoa’ Session

The Electoral Commission [‘EC’] held a constructive ‘talanoa’ on Friday, 10 November 2023, fostering open dialogue with representatives of political parties over afternoon tea. This initiative aligns with the EC’s ongoing commitment to rebuilding trust of the people in the EC.

Ms. Barbara Malimali, Chairperson of the EC, expressed satisfaction with the talanoa, highlighting the valuable exchange of experiences and ideas that transpired among the EC and the attending political party representatives. The session went beyond the contemporary political landscape, delving into historical perspectives dating back to 1970.

“I am very pleased with today’s talanoa session. Despite the presence of only two parties, we had a wonderful exchange of ideas and experiences. I believe we should conduct more awareness sessions with political parties that go beyond the General Secretary level,” said
Ms. Malimali.

Representatives from the All Peoples Party and the People’s Alliance, namely Mr. Laiakini Waqanisau and Mr. Usaia Waqatairewa, respectively, expressed gratitude to the EC for organizing the session. Both representatives appreciated the relaxed atmosphere of the
meeting.

“I am glad we had this session in a very relaxed atmosphere, and I thank the EC for inviting our party to attend,” said Mr. Waqatairewa.

“I thank the EC for organizing this session. We are happy to attend this session and meet the commission members as we only see them in the media,” added Mr. Waqanisau.

The EC members, in turn, were delighted with the talanoa as it provided insights into the workings of political parties, allowing them to address concerns and identify opportunities for future engagements.

Commissioner Nemani Mati remarked, “I found today’s session to be useful, listening to the political parties and the issues they raised, which, in their views, weren’t fair. It was good to listen to them, and I hope that moving forward we can hold more sessions like this.”

Commissioner Dr. Atu Emberson Bain emphasized the cordial and informal nature of the talanoa, describing it as informative. “It was great to meet with representatives of political parties and ask them what kinds of issues might have arisen for them regarding the conduct of the last election and how we can assist and serve them better. Several concerns were raised and we forward to looking into these.”

Following the talanoa, the EC convened its seventh meeting of the newly constituted EC, demonstrating its commitment to fostering ongoing dialogue and collaboration.

From L-R: Mr. Uraia Waqatairewa and EC Chairperson Ms. Barbara Malimali

From L-R: Mr. Laiakini Waqanisau and Commissioner Atu Emberson Bain

EC and FEO are two separate independent bodies – EC Chairperson.

The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Barbara Malimali stated that the EC and the Fijian Elections Office are two separate independent bodies.

Ms. Malimali reiterated that to date, most people still don’t understand that the EC and the FEO play different roles.

“Most people don’t realize that the Electoral Commission and Fijian Elections Office are two independent bodies, and people need to understand that. For us, letting people know that we’re two independent bodies and the fact that they need to trust us and trust the
system is pivotal. So really, it’s about rebuilding the trust of the Fijian people in the EC,” Ms. Malimali stated.

The EC Chairperson added that while the FEO oversees the technical side of things, the EC on the other hand ensures that the integrity of the election processes in Fiji are maintained.

“I’m realizing now that a lot of people don’t realize what we, as the Commission do, what the Fijian Elections Office does. So, by this time, next year, I want more people in this country understand what we do, and that we all don’t just sit around and come to life just before the elections. They must also realise that before elections that there is an election cycle, and we’re all working consistently and continuously to give the people of Fiji the best system that we can afford, and with the resources that we have,” said Ms. Malimali.

Ms. Malimali also stated that the members of the EC have been meeting to formulate and finalise work plans and other action items.

“For the last couple of months, we’ve just been trying to understand our role and where we fit in. We’ve got a work plan and we’ve already worked on some of those things. We’ve got targets, action items that need to be worked on and that’s what we’re doing when we’re going to finalize our plan. We’ve started on it and we’re going to finalize it. Yes, parts of it include making recommendations on amendments to electoral laws. That’s basically what we’re hoping to achieve by the end of this year,” Ms. Malimali elaborated.

The EC Chairperson also stated that by next year, the EC hope that more people will know and understand the importance of voting and the importance of working together as a society in promoting democracy.

“I’m hoping that the people of Fiji realize that we are midway into our election cycle, and that they understand the importance of having elections, the importance of voting and the importance for them to exercise their right to vote. With that right, comes also the responsibility of voting. That’s what I’m hoping, and that people understand the election cycle.”

“Working with our stakeholders is also important. We work with the relevant government ministries, like Ministry for Local Government, the Attorney General’s Office, the Ministry of Women, to get us to where we need to go. And of course, our Civil Society Organisations. We need to work with our Civil Society Organisations, religious bodies and so forth. We need our people to know and understand that we do more than just come out every four years,” stated Ms. Malimali.

End

EC and FEO officials participate in program for NZ general election.

Officials from the Fijian Elections Office [‘FEO’] and the Electoral Commission [‘EC’] are currently participating in the Election Visitor Program [‘EVP’] for the New Zealand General Election.

The EC Chairperson Barbara Malimali stated that she was impressed with the electoral processes the New Zealand Electoral Commission (NZEC) had on display.

“It was good to see the different processes and initiatives that the NZEC incorporate in their Electoral process such as Easy Vote Cards, Special Votes for Voters outside their electorate, Advanced Voting Places in Malls, and shopping business districts,” said Ms. Malimali.

The FEO Director Corporate Services Sanjeshwar Ram also found the presentations by the NZEC very informative.

“There are certainly things we can study and learn from the NZEC to better our voter services in Fiji, the Data Analytics system the NZEC uses to monitor overall operations in particular is very interesting,” Mr. Ram stated.

The EVP which is organized by the NZEC commenced from Thursday 12, 2023 with 14 October being the election day in New Zealand. The EVP participants are from countries from around the Pacific Region namely Australia, Bougainville, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, non-state participants are representatives from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The EVP was attended by the following officials;

1. Ms. Barbara Malimali – EC Chairperson;
2. Mr. Inoke Loganimoce – EC Member;
3. Sanjeshwar Ram – FEO Director Corporate Services.

The FEO International Relations Assistant, Eric Drodrolagi and Operations Coordinator Aseri Baivi were also seconded by the NZEC as EVP Advisors with the NZEC International Team.

The Visitor Program varies from an Election Observation mission, given that when participating in the program, participants will not report on their findings but rather use the opportunity to learn and exchange knowledge among Election Management Bodies. New Zealand does not have International Election Observers.

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Electoral Commission here to serve the people of Fiji – EC Chairperson

Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Ms. Barbara Malimali speaking at the Commissioners’ monthly meeting last week, stated that the EC is here to serve the people of Fiji.

“We need the people of Fiji to realise that they have an Electoral Commission that is independent and that is working. If they have questions, we are here to answer them. If anybody has any issues or questions, they can come and see us, they can email us, they can call us, they can even walk into our office. We are here to serve the people of Fiji,” said Ms. Malimali.

Ms. Malimali added that in order for the EC to fulfil its Constitutional mandate, the work is ongoing and continuing, even during non-election years.

“The EC is a Constitutional Commission and we have a Constitutional mandate as per Section 75 of the Constitution. In order to meet the Constitutional mandate, such as registration of citizens as voters and voter education, a lot of work has to be done beforehand. This is why the current EC is finalising a work plan.”

“The last election was held in 2022 and the next election will be held in 2026. Between 2022 and 2026, a lot of things need to be prepared. We have to understand voter movements, we have to see how we can get the percentages up, how we can get more people to come in and vote at the next elections.”

“We’ve also heard from the Government on the Municipal Council elections anticipated in the new year. The EC has a role to play in the municipal election as well. With that said, I think it’s important that members of the public understand that the work at the EC is ongoing,” Ms. Malimali stated.

The EC Chairperson added that for the EC members to operate and achieve its goals, having regular meetings was vital.

“Having regular meetings is important for the Commission to operate and for the Commission to achieve its work, it can only be done with the Commission sitting. As it is, there is a lot of work to be done. There’s the Electoral Reform, targets to be achieved, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to be prepared and looking at ways to make voting accessible to all eligible voters.

The EC Chairperson also stated that being prepared at all times was something the Commission was moving towards.

“We have targets and we have to achieve them. At every meeting, we see whether we’re doing our work, whether our colleagues from the FEO are doing their part and how we can effectively work together to achieve the same goals and be prepared. Even though all this has to be done within a very restricted budget”.

“We have a budget and given the times we’re living in, we have to work within the budget to achieve our targets. Other than that, we have to be in a state of preparedness and to be able to serve the voting population of Fiji better, which is what the EC aims to achieve,” stated Ms. Malimali.

End

Standing (L- R) – Commissioner Dr Atu Emberson-Bain, Commissioner Nalini Singh and Commissioner Ateca Ledua.
Sitting (L – R) Commissioner Inoke Dokonivalu, Commissioner Reginald Jokhan, EC Chairperson Barbara Malimali and Commissioner Nemani Mati.

Members of the Electoral Commission (EC) today met with the Minister for Local Government and Housing, Honourable Maciu Nalumisa.

The meeting which was also a short courtesy call, provided the opportunity for the EC Members to discuss the progress of the Municipal Council election preparation with the Honourable Minister.

“Given that the EC will also have a part to play in the upcoming Municipal Council election, today’s meeting with the Honourable Minister enabled us to discuss how the EC will assist in ensuring that the election is conducted accordingly,” said Ms. Malimali.

Ms. Malimali added that the EC will be working closely with the Ministry towards the build-up of the 2024 Municipal Council election and those that follow.

“The EC will be conducting more consultation with the Ministry with regards to the plans and timeline prepared for other upcoming Municipal Council elections,” Ms. Malimali stated.

-Ends

An Induction Workshop for members of the Electoral Commission (EC) started today.

In opening the Workshop, EC Chairperson Barbara Malimali welcomed the members and stated that the Commission now had the full complement of Commissioners, with the appointment of Dr. Atu Emberson-Bain.

In addition, Ms. Malimali also emphasised the important role the EC had ahead of them.

“As EC members, it is crucial that we align ourselves to our roles stipulated under Section 75 of the Constitution. Hence, I am confident that over the course of this Workshop, we will be able to do just that,” said Ms. Malimali.

The EC Chairperson added that as appointees of the President of the Republic of Fiji, it was also important to know what their duties were and ensuring that they are executed accordingly.

“Knowing our duties as appointees of the President and seeing that they are implemented accordingly is also important. Therefore, as members of the EC, we are committed to working collectively to best serve the interests of all Fijians,” Ms. Malimali stated.

Ms. Malimali also thanked the New Zealand Electoral Commission (NZEC) for facilitating the Workshop.

“We are truly thankful to the NZEC for facilitating this induction workshop and we look forward to more collaboration in the near future,” said Ms. Malimali.

The Induction Workshop is expected to conclude on Wednesday 16 th August, 2023.

-Ends

Members of the Electoral Commission (EC) met earlier this week and successfully made several resolutions.

The meeting which was a working meeting was attended by all the Commissioners. EC Acting Chairperson Barbara Malimali said the meeting was constructive and fruitful.

“Our meeting was fruitful and we were able to make several resolutions. As EC members, it’s important that we ensure resolutions are made accordingly and without delay,” said Ms. Malimali.

Ms. Malimali added that with the working meeting, the EC is moving forward with what is required of them under the Law.

“With this working meeting and given that most of the Commissioners are new, we can assure our Fijian voters that we are moving forward with the work of the Commission and will perform our duties to the best of our ability,” Ms. Malimali stated.

-Ends

For noting by the media:

1. Please forward all media queries to the FEO Communications team at communications@feo.org.fj
2. You can also obtain the latest update on FEO activities on our Facebook Page ‘Fijian Elections Office’

The newly appointed members of the Electoral Commission [‘EC’] as well as Commissioner Ateca Ledua held their first official meeting today 12 July 2023. The meeting was chaired by the Interim Chairperson of the EC Ms. Barbara Malimali.

The EC meeting today was focused with the filling of the vacant seats in parliament. The EC has resolved to appoint Mr. Sachida Nand to fill the first vacant seat. The EC is currently undertaking the background check on the next candidate to fill the remaining seat. The Interim Chairperson of the EC Ms. Barbara Malimali was happy with the meeting and the decisions the EC was able to undertake today.

“I am happy with the decisions we have been able to make today, particularly to the fact that the EC is at the moment gender balanced and made up of members from diverse backgrounds, experience and shared values in good governance,” said Ms. Malimali.

Ms. Malimali further stated that the EC has decided on sitting dates and looks forward to their induction workshop and dealing with the outstanding matters.

“We have decided on sitting dates and we are looking forward to having our induction workshop and dealing with outstanding matters before the Commission,” said Ms. Malimali.

The EC members are:

Ms. Barbara Malimali – Interim Chairperson
Commissioner Ateca Ledua – EC Member
Commissioner Nalini Singh – EC Member
Commissioner Reginald Jokhan – EC Member
Commissioner Ratu Inoke Dokonivalu Loganimoce – EC Member
Commissioner Nemani Mati – EC Member

-Ends

Commissioner Reginald Jokhan

(From Left to Right) Commissioner Ratu Inoke Dokonivalu Loganimoce, Interim Chairperson Ms. Barbara Malimali, Commissioner Nalini Singh, Commissioner Ateca Ledua and Commissioner Nemani Mati

For noting by the media:

1. Please forward all media queries to the FEO Communications team at communications@feo.org.fj
2. You can also obtain the latest update on FEO activities on our Facebook Page ‘Fijian Elections Office’