SOLOMON Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) Finance Manager Reuben Rongomea says the budget focus for the joint elections in April this year is around SBD$130 million.
He said this budget focus of around SBD130 million is for election-related activities.
“Our budget focus for the election activities were estimated to reach around SBD130 million
“This estimation budget should cover the preparatory activities for election which have already started until the declaration of new leaders,” he stated.
Mr Rongomea added that Solomon Islands Government has provided SBD40 million for the joint elections.
He said the Australian Government is providing an election operation support worth SBD55 million.
Mr Rongomea said SBD 27 million of the Australian support will come under the 2024 budget support whilst SBD28 million has already been provided under the 2023 budget to support towards the election preparation.
He said the New Zealand Government poured in a budget support of SBD 35 million.
Mr Rongomea said other donor partners like the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and European Union also provided support to the election operation.
He said all the funds will be used and some have already been used to prepare election-related matters for the biggest election ever in the country on 17 April.
By LACHLAN EDDIE
Solomon Star, Honiara
