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.