With the first Fiji general election since the 2006 coup less than three weeks away, it is important to understand Fiji’s new electoral system.
The Catholic Church in Fiji has been conducting workshops for Catholic politicians.
Head of Catholic Church, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong says it is the church’s role to train politicians to have an informed conscience and mind.
“You must see that our politicians are coming from varying experiences. Not many of them are trained politicians or lawyers. So it’s important that we provide them such a platform from the Catholic Church”
The Archbishop says this is and will be an ongoing exercise for the church.
“We want government to do a better job and that’s why church has to be prophetic. That’s why we have to form our Catholic politicians in terms of the catholic teaching.”
Here is Asia-Pacific Journalism’s guide to 10 important things to know when casting your vote.
The guide covers the following questions.
- What is the proportional voting system?
- What is the Electoral Decree?
- How many votes can a voter caste?
- What is an open list system?
- Do you vote for a constituency?
- Is there a voting threshold?
- How many parties are there?
- How will a government be formed?
- Who is observing the election?
- Can you vote if you do not live in Fiji?
Thomas Carnegie is a Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies student journalist at AUT University. He is reporting on the Asia-Pacific Journalism course and is Fiji elections coverage editor for Pacific Scoop
Source
- Pacific.scoop
- Fijione.tv
- Image: Screenshot Pacific.scoop