THE government has initially released part of the money requested by the Electoral Commission to carry out the voter registration in preparation for next year’s general election.
Chief Electoral Officer Polycarp Haununu confirmed that $2 million was released last week.
Mr Haununu said an amount of $12.2 million was the initial budget for the whole voter registration exercise
He said due to the cash flow calamity that is being experienced by the government, only $2million was released to get preparation work off the ground.
“That $2 million is the first tranche of that $12.2 million and the second tranche is expected by mid next month”, he said.
He said that although that $2million will not cater for the whole process, they are very happy since it will allow the commission to kick off its preparation for the field work.
“Currently the Commission is working on procurements and logistics in preparation for the training which will be in the second week of January”, Mr. Haununu said.
“Training of Registration officers and Revising officers will begin on 11 January 2010 and Assistant Registration Officers will be in the following week,” he added.
He said voter Registration is the only channel in bringing your voice to the floor of parliament and the only way where people can exercise their democratic right therefore everyone are encouraged to make sure their names are on the voters’ list.
“People will expect registration officials to come to the villages and go house to house in mid January 2010 to do voter registration,” Mr. Haununu said.
“Awareness on voter registration will continue and the public is urged to look forward for more information on voter registration through media,” he said.
Registration is very important and everyone must make sure their name is on the voter list to get a ballot paper during the Election Day especially the young people who have turned 18 and over and have not yet registered to register their names.
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