Clean and Fair Election important for Solomon Islands

By ELLIOT DAWEA
DIVINE WORD UNIVERSITY
MADANG




Solomon Islands urged to respect each other as the nation prepares to go to the pools later this year.

“I call on voters and candidates must uphold the clean and fair election”

Clean and fair election is voters and candidates alike need to respect each other’s rights.

It is important that voters and supporters to respect the rights of candidates to campaign and the right of voters to choose freely without fear and intimidation by rival supporters.

Clean election implies all candidates to avoid illegal campaign strategies that will threaten the rights of voters to choose freely.

“Voters shouldn’t be induced with bribes or other illegal means to lure their support.”

As a matter of fact electoral officials must adhere to laws to ensure clean and fair election.

“It is important that electoral officials to conduct elections with a clean and open mind according to the democratic and legal electoral laws."

A clean and fair election is important for Solomon Islands to live up to 

because it will relay a positive message to neighbours and the international community.

This is how I would see these two words. Clean means no bribery. This is a problem because of all the gifts given to individuals and communities by candidates, from roofing iron for churches to bags of rice or cash for individuals. Also, people voting only once. 

Fair means accurate counting of ballots, everyone entitled to vote being allowed to, no one allowed to vote twice. I think this is not so much a problem.

In my final analysis the smooth conduct of this year’s election will give a positive signal to the region and other democratic nations that Solomon Islands is growing mature as a democratic country.