VETERAN Journalist and intending candidate for East Kwaio, Alfred Sasako has called on the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) to try and set up out of the constituency voting booths in the national capital as a means of avoiding overspending the $50,000 mark by candidates.
Mr Sasako expressed this view after Chief Electoral Officer, Polycarp Haununu had cautioned candidates not to spend above $50,000.
Mr Sasako said that electoral expenses and even campaigning costs are phenomenon and way supersedes $50,000.
Mr Sasako made it clear that if voting booths are set up in Honiara, then there would be no need for candidates to charter ships to carry their voters back to their constituencies.
The Solomon Star understands that to charter a shipping vessel would cost a candidate up to $200,000 alone, which would be more than the required $50,000 limit as stated in the Electoral Act.
“If the government can provide ships to carry our voters back to the provinces than it would be good or if the SIEC can have voting booths established here in Honiara then it would be even better as a vast majority of our (candidates) voters are in Honiara.
“That way no candidate would take the blame for over spending than the other, “ Mr Sasako said.
By JEREMY INIFIRI
