Commonwealth observers

Commonwealth observers call for big changes in PNG electoral process

Leader, former Nauru president, Baron Waqa, says he is gravely concerned at the daily incidents of violence and tragic loss of life that is being reported.

The Commonwealth Observers say the highly centralised structure of the Electoral Commission has undermined the effective delivery of the election.

They say the 2022 rolls were missing a large number of names, which in some cases meant up to 50 percent of eligible voters were not on the rolls.

They were critical of the late and insufficient disbursement of funds, and that unpaid bills and

Commonwealth observers head to Vanuatu

A former Prime Minister of the Bahamas, Hubert Ingraham, will lead the group, which also comprises of Australian federal MP Jane Prentice and a former supervisor of elections in Fiji, Walter Rigamoto.

The group says it will examine pre-election preparations, voting and counting procedures and the announcement of results.

Commonwealth to observe Vanuatu elections

The snap election is being held nine months ahead of schedule, following a period of political instability in which 14 Members of Parliament were convicted of bribery. The convictions led to a political deadlock between the Government and the Opposition which prompted President Baldwin Lonsdale to dissolve Parliament.  

The Commonwealth’s Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, mobilised the Observer Group at the invitation of the Vanuatu Government. He said its work would complement the Commonwealth’s ongoing effort to support democracy in the country.