NORTHERN DIVISION BEGINS FIRST DAY ON A POSITIVE NOTE

(May 7th, 2006 No. 67)

Returning Officer Northern Misieli Naivalu is optimistic that come next week the Northern division will face little or less hiccups in the remaining polling days.

“Ninety per cent of Polling Stations started on time yesterday, only the ones in the outer areas like Udu started at 9am, this was because the teams had to rest before they started for the day,” he said

On his visit with Electoral Commissioner Ratu Semi Seruvakula, he said the stations visited were doing well despite the minor hiccups it faced.

“It was the first day and there was a lot of excitement and the teams just needed to localize themselves and settle down.

He added that Ratu Semi was surprised at the way things were done and that the two districts offices visited showed a well organized team.

“We visited two District Offices, Macuata and Seaqaqa, they are prepared, the box teams have already labeled and stacked and the ballot boxes ready for Monday.”

Mr Naivalu said that the one thing that led to the flow in polling yesterday was the increase in polling stations.

“Because we have increased the number of polling stations, the queue is smaller, if there is a number it is about 10 people in line and the line was just flowing.”

Overall he added that things have been good so far.

“When we arrived at the Maramarua and Nabiti polling stations, the Observers were already there they liked what they saw, with the people sitting down and the ballot boxes on the table.”

Meanwhile other presiding officers from various stations also said that polling on the first day had been good.

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