Prominent lawyer Barbara Malimali has been appointed the temporary chairwoman of the Electoral Commission.
Prime Minister and Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) chair Sitiveni Rabuka confirmed this yesterday after the six-member commission convened for a meeting after a lapse of about five months.
“The first resolution passed by the COC today (yesterday) that we recommend one of the members of the Electoral Commission (EC) to be appointed as temporary chairperson of the EC, until the substantive appointment is made,” Mr Rabuka said.
“The members voted and were in favour of recommending that Ms Barbara Malimali act as temporary chairperson of the EC.
“The second resolution today was that Mr Reginald Jokhan be recommended as a member of the Electoral Commission and he has been a sitting member of the commission.”
Mr Rabuka said there were no other nominees for the temporary chair position.
“She’s the only lawyer in the current group that’s recommended so far. According to the Constitution, the appointment of the Electoral Commission and by convention, it must be a senior legist because of the importance of that position.”
Mr Rabuka said the members were invited to submit their nominees for chairperson of the Electoral Commission in seven days, which meant the nomination period would end on July 14.
Another seven days would be given for deliberation and compilation of papers, until July 21.
Following this, the nomination would then be considered by the COC in a face-to-face meeting on July 28.
