A group of nine Commonwealth observers will arrive in Solomon Islands tomorrow ahead of the national general election next Wednesday.
The Commonwealth has announced the group of nine eminent persons includes representatives from the Pacific, Africa and Asia.
Jo O'Brien reports
"A former secretary-general of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Canadian Dr Arthur Donahoe will lead the group which will observe election preparations, polling, counting, the results process and the electoral environment. Commonwealth Secretary General Kamelesh Sharma says this is an important election which gives the Solomon Islands people an opportunity to further consolidate the stability and democratic gains they have made. The group includes PNG's chief ombudsman, Chronox Manek, the speaker of the Kiribati parliament, Taomati Iuta, New Zealander Andie Fong Toy from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, along with representatives from Uganda, Ghana, India and Bangladesh. The group will remain in the country until August 12 and will submit a report to the Commonwealth, the Solomon Islands government, Electoral Commission and political parties."
