BY NED GAGAHE
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has expressed strong encouragement over the successful conduct of the 2024 Solomon Islands National General Elections (NGE), highlighting the peaceful atmosphere and the efficient process that embraced the will of the people.
This positive feedback comes after the official handover of the MSG Observer Group (MSGOG) Report to the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) this week in Honiara.
The report was presented by the MSG Secretariat team, led by Acting Director General (ADG) Ilan Kiloe, to the Chief Electoral Officer, Jasper Highwood Anisi, and SIEC staff.
In a press statement, ADG Kiloe expressed his appreciation to the Solomon Islands Government and the SIEC for trusting the MSG Secretariat to observe the national elections held on 17 April 2024.
He noted that the successful conclusion of the observation mission was yet another significant milestone for the MSG.
“The MSG Observer Group is a mandate of our Leaders to observe national elections at the request of our members, and these missions are a key part of our efforts to assist Member states in strengthening their electoral processes in line with the ‘MSG 2038 Prosperity Plan for All’,” ADG Kiloe said.
The MSGOG Report confirmed that the outcomes of the 2024 elections were widely accepted by the people of the Solomon Islands, with the election atmosphere remaining calm and peaceful.
The report also stated that the election process itself was well-conducted, and the MSG Group was encouraged by how it was managed throughout.
CEO Jasper Anisi, upon receiving the report, thanked the MSG Secretariat for its valuable input and pledged to ensure that the report’s recommendations would be thoroughly reviewed and followed up on.
The MSG Observer Group was led by Vanuatu, which held the MSG chairmanship at the time of the election mission, and included representatives from Fiji, FLNKS, and Solomon Islands. The group was further supported by staff from the MSG Secretariat.
The MSG’s praise is seen as a boost to the Solomon Islands’ electoral credibility, with the international observation contributing to the continued strengthening of the nation’s democratic processes.
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