K50m for Fiji elections

Main Stories, National
Source:

The National, Wednesday 17th April 2013

 By CHRISTINE PAKAKOTA

PAPUA New Guinea will provide K50 million to assist Fiji prepare and hold elections in September next 

year.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill announced this during a media conference after he signed a communiqué with Fiji prime minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama at the Parliament House yesterday.

O’Neill told Bainimarama that PNG was happy with the preparatory work done so far which included the enrolment of voters and work on a new national constitution.

“Papua New Guinea has always stood by Fiji and try to assist where we can.

“And now we have committed K50 million as our contribution to making sure the election takes place,” he said. 

The amount will be aid in two installments of K25 million.

“So we hope that this whole contribution will enhance Fiji’s election and we look forward now to working closely with the Fijian government on that,” O’Neill said. 

The elections will see Fiji return to parliamentary democracy. 

O’Neill said PNG was ready to help in any way possible. 

Fiji plans to help Papua New Guinea develop its tourism and hospitality industry by offering 15 scholarships to PNG students to study at the Fiji National University school of hospitality in 

Nadi. 

The PNG students can take up studies from next month.

O’Neill said Fiji had a well-developed tourism sector which Papua New Guinea could learn a lot from.

Both countries also agreed to hold a ministerial forum bi-annually.

A senior officials meeting will also be established and PNG will host the first one next year. 

O’Neill said the two countries were the biggest in the Pacific and there was now increased trade and investment.