FIJIANS in New Zealand have experienced various challenges during past General Elections and have called on the Government to make better changes.
The People’s Alliance party New Zealand rep Sai Lealea said ballot papers for previous elections had arrived late or sent to the wrong addresses.
“When this happens, everything gets delayed in sending back to Fiji our ballot papers.
“Sometimes, the counting has started or completed, then we find out that our ballot papers sent back home didn’t reach on time. That means, it doesn’t get counted and this is unfair.”
Mr Lealea shared this experience at The People’s Alliance party annual general meeting held at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva over the weekend.
He pleaded with Government to make better changes so that their ballot papers could be included in the counting process.
“We have asked Government to allow us, and the same should happen for Fijians living in other countries, to send to our respective High Commissions or embassies the ballot papers.
“This will be much easier and we don’t have to mail it ourselves or fax it back during the elections.”
Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga responded to this and confirmed that he too received similar complaints when he visited the Fijian community in New Zealand.
He said Government would attend to these matters.
