Tracking elections

NewsHound now tracks elections around the world, advising upcoming polls, final results and brief backgrounders.
You will find all the major election events on Election Watch, as well as polls from out of the way places.
Today’s issue features a facts list for the Israeli elections, due on March 28. Israeli polls can always be expected to have wide impact across the middle-east region.
Among the less visible elections is the upcoming Solomon Islands poll. If that election does not have the impact of the Israeli counterpart it is no less fascinating to the dedicated poll watcher.
Some basic facts about the Solomon Island election:

• A total of 453 candidates in the Solomon Islands will contest the April 5 polls – 125 more than the number that contested the 2001 elections.


• Of the 453 candidates, 24 are women.


• Only 13 women contested the last elections.


• Of the 24 female candidates, eight will contest in Malaita, five in Guadalcanal, four in Honiara, three in Isabel, two in Makira/Ulawa and one each for Western and Central.


• A total of 140 candidates will contest the 14 constituencies in Malaita.


• The highest number of candidates to contest a seat in Guadalcanal is 13, which is for South Guadalcanal, home of now jailed militant Harold Keke.


• Former West Kwara’ae MP Benjamin Una and former Small Malaita MP Alex Bartlett are not defending their seats. Both men are facing criminal charges...

Among other sidelights of the pre-election period:

Multi-party candidate
The North West Guadalcanal Constituency voters are in total confusion over one of the general election candidate who was selected as the official candidate for 3 political parties. His name appears on the list for Lafari, PAP, and Solomon Islands First Political Parties.It is rumoured that the same candidate held a meeting a Maravovo village and all he did was swore at the people. His next meeting schedule for Visale was not attended by the public as they have heard enough abusive and rude languages from the candidate.

Women urged to reject bribes
Women candidates are being challenged to campaign clean.Solomon Islands National Council of Women acting president Anne Saenemua said this in the light of growing bribery activities by some candidates around the 50 constituencies. “Women candidates must campaign clean so that you win clean or if you loss you loss clean,” she said.

PM faces corruption allegationsSolomons Prime Minister, Allan Kemakeza is directly implicated in a scheme of corrupt ‘aid’ payments made to Solomon Islands politicians by Taiwan, the President of the Solomon Islands Labour Party Joses Tuhanuku alleged.
In a detailed report, Tuhanuku outlined how the scheme based on the funding of so-called ‘Special Projects’ was used by the Prime Minister’s Office. He claims to have uncovered details of the scheme from information gathered from outgoing members of parliament and intending candidates in this year’s general election.

Australia interfering claim
Former MP Alfred Sasako has claimed Australia is interfering into the country’s domestic affairs. He said in July/August last year, the 49 Members of the immediate past Parliament passed an amendment to the Shipping Act, which paved the way for Solomon Islands seafarers to work onboard overseas vessels.
“Unfortunately, Australia through its High Commission in Honiara has torpedoed this well-meaning endeavour.
“Because of Australia’s interference, the amendment could not be promulgated into law and so it remains in abeyance,” he said.

Constituents intimidating
Residents in the Solomon Islands province of Makira are being warned that they cannot intimidate candidates in next week's general election.
The provincial police commander, George Guna, says three communities put up notices informing candidates that if they did not attend a public forum at the end of this week, they would be fined hundreds of dollars.
He says these kinds of activities amount to intimidation and they want a free and fair election.
Guna says the communities do not have the right to demand that candidates turn up when they want.
So drop over to NewsHound and get the low down on world elections.