CEO ACKNOWLEDGES ADF FOR BULK DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTORAL MATERIALS

 Chief Electoral Commissioner (CEO) and Commissioner, Jasper Highwood Anisi today thanked and acknowledged the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for the bulk distribution of almost 90 per cent of all election materials from Honiara to provincial capitals ahead of next week’s Joint Election.

The Australian Defence Force has been closely working with the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) to ensure the safe delivery of ballot materials across the country. Since 3 April the ADF has completed seven flights over four days utilising the C27J aircraft to transport materials. This included flights from Honiara to Kirakira, Gizo, Lata, Taro and Auki. CEO Anisi said that the commission was so grateful that the ADF was on the ground to transport the ballot papers and other electoral material quickly and efficiently to all provincial centres.

“We wanted to ensure that the materials are out in the provincial capitals in time, and in a safe and secure manner. And this assistance is greatly appreciated.” Brigadier Giles Cornelia, Commander of the ADF 7th Brigade responsible for the visiting ADF contingent, said over 300 ADF personnel were deployed to the Solomon Islands in support of the Joint Elections.

He said the ADF personnel deployed were looking forward to supporting the Solomon Islands deliver safe and secure Joint Elections. “It is credit to the close partnership between the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission and the ADF and many months of planning which has resulted in such a highly successful logistics operation,” Colonel Bywater said.

All the ballot papers were safely delivered into the country with the assistance of the ADF which transported over one million ballot papers from Adelaide to Honiara, accompanied by four staff of the electoral commission led by the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Christina Mitini. The ballots were printed in record time, ensuring the timely and safe and efficient delivery to provincial capitals.

The ADF will continue to support the SIEC over the coming weeks, including with the return of election materials from provincial capitals back to Honiara. The SIEC is an independent Constitutional Electoral Management Body that is responsible for voter registration and the conduct of elections at the Parliamentary, Provincial Assemblies, and Honiara City Council levels.