Provincial and HCC ballots first following crucial verification step: SIEC

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

Counting of the casted ballots of yesterday’s successful joint elections begins today.

After close of elections yesterday at 4pm, polling officials sealed the ballot boxes in front of witnesses which include police officers, Honiara City Council (HCC) officers, polling agents, international and domestic observers, media and members of public.

The boxes were then escorted to the counting centres and stored securely awaiting today’s counting. For Honiara, the counting centre is the Multipurpose Hall, where ballot boxes from all polling stations across the three constituencies were brought to.

In the provinces, their counting centres will be at their capital station or town. For Guadalcanal, the counting centre is the Henderson food court and the National Archives, according to the chief electoral officer, Jasper Anisi, during yesterday’s post-election press conference.

The Electoral Commission (SIEC) estimates that counting should complete within one-and-half week’s time, commencing today.

Some of the small wards are expected to have their

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

Madame Taeasi Sanga, Chairwoman of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC), emphasized the importance of the day in her early morning national address. With months of hard work behind them, both citizens and officials are looking forward to the outcome of this pivotal event.

For the first time in the nation’s history, registered voters will have the opportunity to select two leaders: one for parliament and one for their provincial level. Additionally, residents of Honiara will cast their votes for the Honiara City Council.

Preparations for this momentous occasion have been a collaborative effort between the Electoral Commission, international donors, and the Solomon Islands government. With assistance from various partners, the Commission has ensured that all necessary arrangements are in place, including the preparation of ballot papers, to facilitate a smooth voting process.

As polling stations across the country open their doors, citizens are exercising their democratic right to choose the individuals who will guide the nation forward in the years to come

BY IRWIN ANGIKI

The Electoral Commission has refuted as misleading rumours that the ballot paper must be signed with a red-coloured pen.

Speaking to Island Sun yesterday evening, Ednal Palmer of the SIEC Communications team said, “the electoral law does not say the colour of the polling official’s signature on the ballot paper invalidates that paper.”

The ballot paper is valid whether it is signed in any colour by the polling official, be it red, blue or black.

A ballot paper however is invalid if it is not signed by the polling official, SIEC said.

The rumours spreading via social media that the ballot paper must be signed in red is totally misleading and false, SIEC said.

“This false information stemmed from a misunderstanding during a recent electoral training in which references were uttered regarding the usage of red pens and blue pens in the kits of the polling station officials.

“Some participants of the training misinterpreted some discussions and spread the misleading rumour that a ballot paper must be signed in red in order to be valid, if it is signed in another coloured either black or blue then it becomes invalid. This is totally false and misleading.”

SIEC appeals to members of public to stop sharing and amplifying false and misleading rumours on social media and in the streets.

“Please seek clarifications from the SIEC.”

BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

FORMER Member of Parliament and the only first MP in Solomon Islands history in 1989, Hilda Kari, is saying that women can do anything men can.

Sharing her experience with Island Sun, she said during her time only money was her challenge to contest the elections back then, but she managed to become an MP then.

She said in 1989 she contested the National Elections for North East Guadalcanal and lost to 59 votes, with Waita Ben Tabusasi winning at that time.

“Back then, those leaders like Waita Ben were wise leaders, and he vacated his seat to become the speaker, and that was when I re-contested the bye-elections, and I won with thousands,” Mrs. Kari recalled.

She served as MP for North East Guadalcanal, and the name changed to East Central Guadalcanal, in the 1994 general election and again in 1997, thus serving until 2001.

She said at that time she also held ministerial portfolios, in which she served as Minister of Forests, Conservation, and the Environment, and she has also been Minister for Women, Youth, and Sports.

Now retired, she is now 75 years old. She’s not just a former Member of Parliament; she’s a beacon of hope and inspiration for women candidates.

She said she came to Honiara in 1971 and joined the government workforce. Back then, it wasn’t common for women to work in government, but she worked hard in various roles, showing that women can do anything they set their minds to.

But Hilda’s path was not without challenges. She faced setbacks, including losing her seat during turbulent times in the Solomon Islands’ history. She continued to fight for what she believed in, showing courage and determination in the face of difficulty.

One of Hilda’s greatest passions is empowering women to participate in politics. She believes that everyone should have a say in how their country is run, regardless of gender. Through her work, she has encouraged women to step forward and take their rightful place in the political arena.

“Being an MP, the important thing is to learn and understand the system of Parliament and the government. I see our former female MPs were not really having the courage to speak up amongst the male MPs, but the floor of the parliament is to raise issues of concern on behalf of the people we serve,” Mrs. Kari said.

She said during her time she was the only woman, but she managed to cope and present her views on behalf of her people.

“During my campaign, I listened and noted the concerns raised by my constituents and presented their views in Parliament, and I made quarterly visits to my constituency. At that time, only $4000 for constituency tours compared to nowadays,” Mrs. Kari said.

Meanwhile, she also said that the rural populace lacks knowledge of how the government systems and parliament operate, and the Solomon Islands Electoral Council needs to do more education and raise awareness in rural areas.

Mrs. Kari said knowledge is power, and everyone should be informed about the electoral process and the role of leadership in governance. With education and awareness, she hopes to create more informed and engaged communities.

Therefore, she believes that by working together and supporting one another, the country can overcome any challenge that comes its way.