Forum Observes Solomon Islands General Elections

Forum Observes Solomon Islands General Elections

At the invitation of the caretaker Solomon Islands Government, the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat deployed a team of election observers to attend the Solomon Islands National General Election held today 4 August 2010.

The Forum’s team is led by Mr Sakiusa Rabuka, the Forum’s Permanent Representative to the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands. The team’s electoral expert is Mr Reitama Taravaru, the Acting Electoral Commissioner of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. The team also comprises officials from the Forum Secretariat, including its Gender Issues Officer, Law Enforcement Development Officer and International Legal Adviser.

The team observed the elections in Solomon Islands and the subsequent counting of votes over the next few days.

The Forum welcomes the invitation from the Solomon Islands to observe its elections. The Forum also welcomes the Solomon Islands’ invitation to the United Nations to provide technical assistance, including coordination of international election observers.

The Forum acknowledges the valuable assistance provided by the UN Election Observers Coordination team in facilitating the deployment of the various international delegations, thus enabling comprehensive observation of polling and counting across the Solomon Islands.

ENDS

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