1 Mar 2007

28 Fiji Elections Office staff laid off

11:16 am on 1 March 2007

The contracts of 28 project staff of the Fiji Elections Office have been terminated because of financial constraints.

The Fiji Times says this affects workers in regional offices, including Labasa, Lautoka, Nausori and the head office in Toorak, Suva.

The Acting Supervisor of Elections, Semi Matalau, says they are low on cash after the New Zealand Government withdrew funding.

But the New Zealand High Commissioner, Michael Green, has told the paper that New Zealand funding was not for supporting staff salaries.

He says New Zealand funding was to provide technical support to the Supervisor of Elections and the Fiji Elections Office for things like corporate plan development, systems development and management.

The interim regime has no plans to hold elections before 2010.