5 Mar 2014

PNG officially commits millions of dollars towards Fiji elections

11:22 am on 5 March 2014

Papua New Guinea has officially committed US$10 million to Fiji for preparations for the 2014 Election planned for September.

The first payment of $3 million will be made at the end of this month to the Elections Office.

The donation was formalised after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two governments on Tuesday.

PNG's prime minister Peter O'Neill pledged the elections assistance last year.

Fiji's Ministry of Information says a further $10 million will be discussed and dispatched in 2015.

Papua New Guinea has commended the work carried out by the Fijian Elections Office.

The PNG Government's chief secretary, Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, is in Fiji to work out the details for rolling out the assistance.

He is quoted as saying he is satisfied with information provided on elections preparations, and can report back to his Government with satisfaction that the Fijians have explained exactly how they are going to spend the money.