South Korea to assist Samoa’s electoral process

South Korea has committed $5 million tala (US$1.9 million) in grant funding to improve the local election processes, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi announced via his weekly television programme, Taimi ma le Palemia hosted by TV1.

The grant will go towards strengthen the election process and complement’s the government initiative to eliminate corrupt practices during general elections.

“Corrupt practices such as double voting will also be eliminated,” said Tuilaepa.

“Part of the assistance,” he added “will see a new electronic vote counting system replacing the manual process.”

In effect it will mean that the general election results will be available in one hour or so after the polling officially closes.

In Seoul, Tuilaepa who is also the Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum said that South Korea also raised the unanimous decision by the Forum Leaders to de-registered all North Korean fishing boats in response to nuclear threats by that country.

The meeting is the 3rd Korea-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Seoul, Korea and designed for a shared vision of peace and prosperity.

This year, the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting focused on ways to strengthen substantial cooperation in the sectors of development, climate change and maritime affairs and fisheries. It also provided a platform for Korea and the Pacific Island countries to share views on each other’s regional situations with the aim to enhance peace and security.

SOURCE: SAMOA GOVT/PACNEWS