Fijian youths found their voice at a recent talanoa dialogue on the upcoming election with panelists that included the Supervisor of Elections (SoE), Mohammed Saneem.
The University of the South Pacific Students Association (USPSA)-organised event attracted not only students and alumni, but also businessmen and political parties.
SoE Saneem told attendees that “there have been massive attempts to discredit the [electoral] process.”
Saneem said, “I have to be very honest with you; it is not only from political parties but from all facets: academia trying to bring in far-fetched research material; legal people trying to bring in interpretations of the law that best suit whatever the current political preference; right down to attempts to even make my claim about things like ballot boxes flying from China.”
He continued, “I’m not here to make friends; my job is to run the elections.”
The Head of USP’s School for Politics and International Affairs, Associate Professor Sandra Tarte, reminded attendees of what true democracy meant.
“Democracy is often described as government by the people, of the people, and for the people.
“Elections are important because they help ensure that people like you and me have a say over who represents us in government. Not only that, elections help keep our representatives accountable.
“Knowing there will be a vote every few years, our representatives are more likely to be responsive to your interests, so that we vote them in again. But this, of course, assumes that elections are free, fair, and have no barriers to voting.”
She concluded: “If we don’t participate in elections by voting, it is argued then the whole edifice of democracy starts to crumble. A vibrant and functioning democracy requires citizen participation and engagement.”
The discussion about a free, fair, and independent process prompted Faith Grace of the opposition Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) to ask about requirements around party manifestos
Under Fiji law, parties making electoral promises must explain how they would pay for undertakings made during the campaign period. This has proved a disincentive to the release of detailed manifestos well ahead of the polls, as parties seek to avoid being penalised under electoral laws.
Saneem said that although parties are required to submit their manifestos and they are keeping a close eye on the parties’ promises and activities, they cannot legally enforce manifestos. He said he hopes that in the next elections, manifestos will be submitted earlier.
The intergenerational talanoa sessions, which aim to provide a platform to address burning questions from first-time voters to senior members of the community, quickly became restless as the audience was eager to get answers to some of their questions. Some of the other issues covered follow.
Women in politics
The session heard that Saneem is not a supporter of quota systems for women in parliament, as is seen in Samoa and Bougainville.
“When it comes to women voting in elections, I think it’s fantastic that someone said, ‘A lady should be prime minister,’” he said during the talanoa. “The Fijian electoral system is the best system to get as many women, youth, persons with disabilities, or any kind of advocacy group into parliament. Because it’s a popular system, which means that a popular candidate will get the bulk of the votes and the support candidates will get a few votes each, they will be in Parliament.”
He says under this system, if their parties nominate them, women can enter parliament on merit.
“You don’t want to have a situation like you have in Bougainville, where they say, ‘Oh, there are four seats for women; stick to them.’ Do not interfere with the elections in the other seat. That’s meant for men; it’s backfiring. The quota system is backfiring.”
Saneem said when he asked parties if they would commit to ensuring half their candidates are women, they told him, ‘No, we want candidates who will bring votes; otherwise, we will lose the election.”
