MEDIA URGED TO COMPLETE ACCREDITATION FORMS
HONIARA, Solomon Islands – THE Solomon Islands National Electoral Office (SIEO) is calling on the mainstream media and news agencies to liaise with the Electoral Office’s Communications/Media Unit in in facilitating media accreditations for next month’s national and provincial by-elections for West Guadalcanal Constituency and Paripao ward in Northeast Guadalcanal.
Since the start of March, the SIEO had reached out to the local media to apply for media accreditation, however received very little feedback and responses since then. And, after organizing an Election Media Briefing that somewhat saw a very disappointing turn-out, the Electoral Office made the decision to provide media accreditation based on passes issued during the 2024 Joint Elections. This will only be given to those who complete their media accreditation forms.
Head of SIEO Communications; Philothea Ruaeho explained, “All media personnel and news reporters tasked to cover June’s by-elections for West Guadalcanal Constituency and Paripao ward must complete the media accreditation form in order to have access to electoral venues and resources during polling, counting and the official announcement phases of the June by-elections”.
“Those who complete their forms will have the media accreditation status updated from the 2024 National Joint Elections for these coming by-elections, as it is a follow-up of the 2024 NJE,” Ms Ruaeho said.
She added that accreditation forms are still available and that her team is prepared to facilitate media passes for those who do reach out. Thus, the SIEO again calls on the media to liaise with them for media accreditation.
“I am making this call to remind all media and news personnel tasked to provide news coverage of the by-elections for West Guadalcanal Constituency and Paripao ward in June to liaise with our Office for facilitation and confirmation of their media accreditation for the coming by-election,” Ms Ruaeho stated.
Meanwhile, the SIEO is again partnering up with the Solomon Islands National Broadcaster (SIBC) for live coverage of the June 4 by-elections, and the official announcement of election results.
The Solomon Islands Electoral Office is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its efforts to successfully conduct credible, transparent and peaceful elections in the country, through its SECSIP initiative.
SECSIP or Strengthening the Electoral Cycle in the Solomon Islands Project is a collaborative effort by the Australian Government, the European Union and the UNDP that supports the Solomon Islands Government to strengthen the sustainability of its electoral processes, and the capacity of the Electoral Commission and Electoral Office, and other key electoral institutions in Solomon Islands.
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