NOT MUCH EXPERIENCED IN SUVA AREA FOR DAY FOUR OF POLLS

(May 10th, 2006 No. 77)

There was smooth sailing for polling around the vicinity of the greater Suva area today as the General Elections reached its fourth day today.

Presiding Officers from the various polling centers were today satisfied with the voter turn out and the fact that there were only very minor problems that they faced through the day.

Presiding Officer for the Fiji School of Nursing in Tamavua, Jale Kunawalu said that he was satisfied with the polling that took place today. He added that there were only 4 incidents of voter names not appearing the polling rolls.

He praised the Police for being forever present around the polling areas providing the necessary security to ensure the smooth running of the station.

There were no long queues visible since the polling was taking place in a relatively spacious hall allowing a lot of room for voters to rest on chairs while they wait to cast their vote.

However, the same could not be said for the polling station up at the Tacirua Primary School where the queues were relative short and voters did not have to stand for long because there were two places where they could cast their votes.

Filipe Waqa, one of the Presiding officers at this station confirmed that they also had no problems and the queues was not a reflection of difficulties that they were facing but because the voters had all turned up at once probably from their respective work places.

In addition, he also noted that there was no incident of voters turning up to vote but not having their names in the rolls.

One of the two Presiding Officers at the Rishikul Polling station in Valelevu, Peni Senitautau, was also satisfied with the polling conducted at this station.

He mentioned that there was no voter turned away because her/his name was not registered. He added that comparing the past three days of polling and from all the polling stations that he had been stationed too, the Rishikul polling station had been the best so far.

“It’s very spacious, hygienic and well ventilated,” Mr Senitautau.

The queue at this polling station was quite acceptable according to Mr Senitautau and they were able to close at 5pm which was the official closing time.

On the other hand, all three presiding officers had the same arrangements regarding the transportation of ballot papers to and from the polling stations.

Every morning before the polling stations are opened for voting, the ballot papers are transported from the operations center with police escorts to their respective polling centers.

At the end of the day when voting closes, the ballot boxes are again transported with police escorts to the Elections office for verifications before they are taken to the count center at Suva Grammar.

-End-