Commonwealth announces Group to observe Solomon Islands National Parliamentary elections

News Release

Former CPA Secretary-General Dr Arthur Donahoe QC to lead Group

A Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) will be present during the Solomon Islands’ National Parliamentary Elections scheduled for 4 August 2010. The COG will be led by the former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Dr Arthur Donahoe QC.

The Group was constituted by Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma at the invitation of the Government of Solomon Islands.

“This is an important election which provides the people of Solomon Islands with an opportunity to further consolidate the stability and democratic gains they have made,” the Secretary-General said.

The Group’s mandate is to observe preparations for the election; the polling, counting and results process and the overall electoral environment. The Team is to assess the overall conduct of the process and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral process in Solomon Islands.

The Group will act impartially and independently and shall conduct itself according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation to which the Commonwealth is a signatory. The Group will work in close co-operation with other international observers under the logistical

co-ordination generously provided by the United Nations.

The Group’s report will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will in turn send it to the Government of Solomon Islands, the National Electoral Commission of Solomon Islands and political parties, and eventually to all Commonwealth Governments.

The Commonwealth Observer Group will comprise nine eminent persons, including the Chair. The Team will arrive in Honiara on 28 July 2010 and stay until 12 August 2010.

The full composition of the Group:

Chair:  Dr Arthur Donahoe QC

Former CPA Secretary-General

Canada

Hon Taomati Iuta, MP

Speaker of Parliament

Kiribati

Eng Dr Badru Kiggundu

Chairperson, Electoral Commission of Uganda

Uganda

Ambassador James Aggrey-Orleans

Former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom

Ghana

Mr Chronox Manek

Chief Ombudsman

Papua New Guinea

Ms Rita Payne

Chairperson

Commonwealth Journalists Association (UK Branch)

India

Mr Ahmed Fayaz Hassan

Vice-Chairperson, Electoral Commission

Maldives

Ms Andie Fong Toy

Former Director of Political and Security Programme

Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat

New Zealand

Ms Shahreen Tilottoma

Regional Youth Caucus Representative

Commonwealth Youth Programme

Bangladesh

The Group will be supported by a four-person staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by Dr Purna Sen, Head of Human Rights at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

For media enquiries, please contact Dr Sen at p.sen@commonwealth.int, UK mobile: +44 7912 463 742 or Solomon Islands mobile: +677 750 8813.

Cathy Price Administrative Assistant Communications & Public Affairs Division   Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7747 6386    Fax: Direct +44 (0) 20 7004 3771  General: +44 (0) 20 7839 9081 Web: www.thecommonwealth.org Did You Know? The Commonwealth assists countries with international trade, debt, finance, and economic and legal advice.

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