Election Update

By Andrew Fanasia Jr.

In Auki, Malaita Province Capital, more than 20 ballots box were burnt last night by the supporters of a candidate in Lau/Baelelea constituency.

Reports said that, more than 100 plus mob broke into the house which stored the ballot boxes and burnt them, it is stated that these box should be open in the morning for the counting of Lau/Baelelea ballot papers.

The RAMSI millitary personal were flown to Auki early this morning to control the situation.

Also in Tulagi, Central Province Capital, some men who did not want former MP Mark Kemakeza were destroying some properties Tulagi after the Returning Officer official declaration of Mark Kemakeza voctory yesterday.

The anti-Kemakeza have destroyed the main water pipeline which supply water in Tulagi.

RSIPF and RAMSI are working together to settle the problem in Tulagi and Auki.

Meanwhile, most of the Constituency in the country have declared their MPs,

2010 Election Update

Pictures by Andrew

2010 Election Update

Three former MPs from the previous House have retained their seat. Job Tausinga, Seth Gukuna and Varian Lonamei have won comfortably as results slowly come in.
HONIARA

West Honiara: Counting has stopped just after 5pm today at the Rove Police station with police presence remaining strong. Only seven out of the twenty four ballot boxes have been completed so it is likely that the result will be out late tomorrow afternoon. Polling agents are tightlipped with the results so far although it is understood Namson Tran is in a strong lead ahead of Isaac Inoke.

East Honiara: Only five polling stations counted so far with a reportedly low turnout. Counting has also stopped after 5pm today and result will be available tomorrow when counting continues. So far newcomer Douglas Ete is said to be in a strong lead with Charles Dausabea in second place.

Central Honiara: Counting has stopped with most ballots counted. Result should be available tomorrow mid morning.

GUADALCANAL PROVINCE

North West Guadalcanal constituency: Honiara Businessman Bobo Detke is leading the count for the North West Guadalcanal constituency with seven polling stations being counted so far. On second place is the former MP Siriako Usa and a distant third being Joseph Neilsen. Five more polling stations are left and there appears to be an improvement in voter turnout as counting continues.

Counting for all Constituencies in Guadalcanal is being conducted at the National Archives so results will likely be made available tomorrow.

MALAITA PROVINCE

Counting in most constituencies has begun in the provincial capital, Auki.

East Malaita: Only started counting in the afternoon so results will be tomorrow.
Aoke/Langalanga: Mathew Wale and Billy Manu are frontrunners for the Aoke Langalanga constituency as counting heads towards polling stations in the lagoon.

North Malaita: Jimmy Lusibaea is leading in most polling stations counted so far with Leslie Kwaiga and Enele Kwanairara still in close contest.

West Kwaio: Former MP Peter Tom is said to be leading with newcomer Charles Karaori in close second.

Baegu/Asifola: So far the leading candidate is Henry Olobeni with Toswel Kaua in close second.

MAKIRA PROVINCE

Counting in all constituencies has begun, although with late arrivals of ballot boxes to the counting stations it is likely that the results will be tomorrow.

ISABEL PROVINCE

Counting in Buala is well underway.

Maringe/Kokota: Former MP Varian Lonamei has been declared winner by the Returning Officer.

WESTERN PROVINCE

North New Georgia: Job Dudley Tausinga has been declared winner by the Governor General Sir Frank Kabui for a record seventh term in Parliament. Results are as follows:
Job D. Tausinga - 1419
Dewin Alick - 458
Nuatali Tongaratu - 36

Gizo Kolombangara: Only two polling stations left, it is understood former MP Gordon Darcy Lilo is performing strongly so far with results expected soon.
Other Constituencies will give their results tomorrow.

CHOISEUL PROVINCE

Counting still continuing, with a late start it is expected that results will be made available tomorrow.

RENNEL BELLONA PROVINCE

Rennell Bellona Constituency: The Governor General, Sir Frank Kabui, officially declared Seth Gukuna winner of the Rennell Bellona Constituency. Results are as follows;
Seth Gukuna - 882
David Tuhanuku - 278
Timothy Johnston - 167
Charlie Tango - 154
Collin Tesuatai - 142
Clive Tuimaka - 93
Jay Kabei - 59

TEMOTU PROVINCE

Counting in all constituencies continuing, because of bad weather most counting started late. Looks very likely that results will be available tomorrow.

CENTRAL PROVINCE

Ngella Constituency: Counting completed for six polling stations so far. Reports from SIBC say that there appears to be a low turnout attributed to bad weather.

Former MP Mark Kemakeza, John Lee Hatimoana and Bartholomew Parapolo still leading the count. Twenty polling stations left so it is quite likely that the result will be made available tomorrow. Counting has been stopped and will resume tomorrow morning.

Savo/Russell Constituency: Counting has began, delay in counting due to late arrivals of ballot boxes to the counting stations, due to bad weather. Counting has been stopped and will continue tomorrow.

More updates will be made as and when results come to hand.

Dateline Denies Voters Right.

By Andrew Fanasia Jr.

Voters queue to cast their vote. Pic: Andrew F

More than 300 eligible voters in three polling station in Guadalcanal were saying that the close of polls at 5pm yesterday denied thier right to vote.

Voters in these three polling stations said there are still more than 300 elegible voters queued up to cast thier votes but the time did not allow them to proceed.

A woman aged 30 in Northwest Guadalcanal said yesterday that "this is unfair because it is our sole roght to vote for our parliament representative."

She complained that, the Electoral Office should extend the dateline so that voters can fulfill their right to vote for their candidates.

A polling station in Kukuva Foxwood area, Northwest Guadalcanal, the polling station was so crowded by lunch hour till late in the evening that some voters who want to cast their ballot turned back to their homes due to long queue.

However, the Chief Electoral Officer Polycarp Haununu told a media conference before the colse of the polls he had not receive any reports of long queues where people might miss out.

Voters in Honiara looking for their names on the list. Pic. Andrew F

'People might only not vote because their names were not on the list," Haununu affirmed yesterday at the press conference in Honiara.

Haununu also confirmed that there was no reports of any disturbance "but pleased to say that the polling today (yesterday) was very high."

Haununu confirmed to the media that counting starts today and ends on Sunday.

We aren’t an Investigative Group: Dr Donahoe QC

Andrew Fanasia Jr.

Dr Arthur Donahoe QC, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group in Honiara, S.I

Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) Chair strongly stressed that they are not here in the Solomon Islands to investigate the national general election's improper activites.

Dr Arthur Donahoe QC, Chairperson of the COG made this statement in his arrival statement in Honiara on Friday last week.

The Solomon Islands and other international media asked Dr Donahoe QC about the form of investigation the Observer Group will do with the allegations of improper activity related to the national election.

"I want to stress that we aren't an investigation group, we are not here to turn over stones and try to unearth improper activity," Dr Donahoe QC affirmed to the media attending his press conference in Honiara.

He futher stressed that they are observer Group and they can only comment on what they observe.

"If that sort of activity happens, he said, and if it happens clandestinely its' unlikely that they observe it in the nature of the way they conduct their operatios.

Meanwhile, Dr Donahoe QC said they have been made aware of some allegations that some candidates engaged in improper activities surrounding the voters and "certainly we will be on the watch for that sort of thing."

The National Express understands that the COG will be deployed to the six of the nine provinces of the country and in Honiara to observe the voting, counting, and result processes.