Fiji's former president Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem will join the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Observer Mission to observe the snap election in Vanuatu on Friday.
The MSG Observer Mission is led by former parliamentarian and Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Sir Francis Hilly Billy and will also include observers from Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia.
Saneem says he is honored to observe Vanuatu’s snap election following Fiji’s participation in the Bougainville election through the Pacific Islands Forum Observer Mission last year.
Meanwhile, a team from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has left for Port Vila, Vanuatu, to assist with the country’s upcoming snap elections this Friday.
The officers left on board the Patrol Boat Lata on Monday last week at the request of the Vanuatu Government.
Police Commissioner Frank Prendergast said the officers will assist their Vanuatu counterparts with the transportation of ballot boxes and provide security during the one day election.
“This is a very significant request for assistance. We are very happy to be able to help the Vanuatu Police Force at this time, recognising the assistance that the Vanuatu Police Force has given the RSIPF during the RAMSI era. The reason that our patrol boat has been asked is that the Vanuatu patrol boat, you may recall, was damaged during the Cyclone Pam and is still undergoing repairs. It’s a significant vote of confidence by Vanuatu in the RSIPF and we are very happy, said Commissioner Prendergast.
The snap election will be contested by 183 candidates who will be vying for 52 seats in Parliament