SIR FRANCIS TO LEAD MSG ELECTION OBSERVER TEAM TO PNG NATIONAL ELECTIONS

-
Following an invitation by the PNG government, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) will be sending a team to observe Papua New Guinea’s National elections this year.

The team consisting of a former Fiji President, Ratu Epeli Nailitikau, Vanuatu’s Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Martin Tete, Supervisor of Elections in Fiji, Mr. Mohamed Saneem, Secretary to the MSG Chair, Mr Rence Sore and Member of the Political Bureau of the FLNKS, Mr Phillipe Ajapunya. 

The MSG Election observer team will be led by a former Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Sir Francis Billy Hilly.  Sir Francis who was the Solomon Islands Prime Minister from June 1993 to November 1994 also headed the MSG’s Election Observer team to the Vanuatu National Elections last year.

This will be the third time for the MSG to participate as observers in the election of a member country. The first was to the Fiji National Elections in 2014 and the second was to the Vanuatu National Elections in 2016. The PNG National elections will be held from 24th of June to the 8th of July.

Sir Francis, centre, signing his Agreement of Service as Head of the MSG Election Observer Team to the 2017 PNG National Elections with the MSG Chair, Prime Minister Sogavare of Solomon Islands. Looking on is the Secretary to the MSG Chair, Mr Sore.



Prime Minister Sogavare wished Sir Francis well as he leads the MSG Election Observer Team to the PNG Elections. Sir Francis acknowledged the trust and confidence the MSG has placed in him to once again lead the MSG Election Observer Team and expressed optimism for a successful election.

ENDS///

Source:  PM Press Secretariat

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

AUSTRALIA: A STEADFAST PARTNER AND FRIEND TO SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY DR LACHLAN STRAHN, AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SOLOMON ISLANDS Australia and Solomon Islands enjoy a close bond – indeed, we are Pacific family. The Blue Pacific is our shared home, our common region. The Coral Sea links us forever and continental drift is in fact pushing us closer together. But our deep friendship is based on much more than shared geography. We are bound together by our common values as democratic countries committed to peace, a rich spiritual life and a shared determination to give every individual, man, woman, girl and boy, the opportunity to reach their full potential. Family stick together, through the good times and the tough times. Australia partnered with Solomon Islands during some of the country’s darkest moments, including through RAMSI to help restore stability and law and order. And Solomon Islands has been there for Australia, with people across the country reaching into their hearts to raise funds for the communities ravaged by devastating bushfir...
Read more

VANUATU BIGGEST IMPORTER OF CANNED TUNA FROM SOLOMON ISLANDS

-
Image
BY GEORGINA KEKEA VANUATU is the biggest importer of canned tuna from Solomon Islands. National Fisheries Development (NFD) Limited Managing Director, Frank Wickham shared this information in a recent radio talkback show to mark World Tuna Day. Wickham says the biggest export destination for SolTuna’s canned tuna is Vanuatu. “Followed by Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the market is now open in New Zealand. There is a big move now to promote and market in New Zealand and Australia. We have containers going to Kiribati, Tuvalu with a few to Tonga and Marshall Islands. The biggest of them all is Vanuatu”, Wickham said. He says domestically the consumption of tuna is growing annually making Solomon  Islands one of the biggest canned tuna consumption per capita in the world. “Two years ago it was like more than 800,000 cartons a year. which means for every woman, man and child in the country, they consume one carton a year. So if you look at 48 tin cans in one carton, it is almost one ...
Read more

HOW A TINY PROVINCE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS REACHES OUT TO AUSTRALIA

-
Image
THE small island province of Temotu in the far eastern part of Solomon Islands is one of the nation’s most prone natural hazard areas. The tsunami in 2013 swamped through 20 villages With an estimated population of less than 25,000, Temotu often has its bouts of natural disasters. In 2015, tropical cyclone Pam left devastating effects on the tiny province where people were affected from damages to their fruit trees, food gardens and agricultural crops. People near the coast were evacuated. Then again in 2017, TC Donna in its wake and formation also impacted badly on the people of Temotu. Not to mention it was only seven years ago a tsunami claimed lives of more than 10 people, swamped more than 20 villages forcing the government to declare a state of emergency over the Santa Cruz Islands. Remains of household in Venga village after 2013 tsunami (Photo supplied) Their most recent bout of disaster was in January 2019 where bad weather caused people to face food shortag...
Read more