“NO problem is too small to overlook for the health of smooth running of elections.”
These are the word of Chief Electoral Officer Polycarp Haununu.
“Our continuous strive for future elections is to achieve, free, fair and credible Elections”
After the successful completion of the National Biometric Voter Registration and Election last year, the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission with all its provincial temporary Election Officers have come to retrospect on successes, challenges and issues experienced and faced during these two major events.
Four days lessons learnt workshop was held at OG Conference Center, Kwaimani Building from Monday 24th – 27th March ended yesterday.
Speaking at the closing, Mr Haununu thanked all Electoral provincial officers for sharing the challenges and Issues faced in the field.
“Running election is a risky and challenging job especially with limited funds, transportations difficulties and unpredictable weather conditions in reaching out to the remote areas,” he said.
“Dealing with all issues faced and rectifying them in the field as shared and having a success, free and fair elections to people’s satisfaction is something that you should be given an applaud,” Mr Haununu added.
He thanked the Field Officers for been so observant in identifying all the challenges and problems faced and forwarding their recommendations to the Electoral Commission for further Consideration and addressing.
“We have the list of your recommendations and will work on them however some of the issues identified needs legislative review and therefore needs political will,” Mr Haununu said.
“No problem is too small to overlook for the health of running elections, thank you for those challenges and issues shared.”
Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Home Affairs, Fred Fakarii, who also presented and gave his remarks after the first two days of deliberation on Biometric Voter Registration issues and challenges also praise both Electoral and Provincial Staff for the work well done for successful completion of the two major electoral event.
Mr Fakarii stressed that timing is the most critical cross-cutting issues to most of the challenges face along with finance and it is something to work on for future activities.
“To ensure smooth implementations of all electoral activities in the futures, preparation should be done well ahead thus need timely availability of funds,” Mr Fakarii said.
The workshop was held for Makira, Temotu, Rennell and Bellona, Honiara and Guadalcanal provincial Election Officers only.
Similar workshop will be held in Auki from 13th -15th April for Malaita and Central Provinces and another from 27th -29th in Gizo for Western and Choiseul provinces.
Mr Haununu said that Election Officials attending the workshops are from all the levels of Electoral event Administration including the Registration Data Collecting Officers.
“We want to know all issues at all level. No problem or issue is too small to overlook. What we want is to get a high score in future and whatever unspotted problems do minus points to the overall score and this is want we want to avoid,” Mr Haununu said.
