Solomon Islands Electoral Commission for the first time has a local female Chief Electoral Officer.
Mrs Jane Waetara was sworn-in as Chief Electoral Officer and pledged her allegiance to take up the role and responsibility mandated to her in her service to the Office of the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission as required by the national constitution.
His Excellency the Governor General, Sir David Vunagi administered the swearing-in ceremony at the Government House today.
In a statement today, Electoral Commission, Operation Manager, Mr Freddie Bosoboe highlighted that, Mrs Waetara is the first local and female to hold this post since it was constitutionalised in mid-2018.
“We are very happy to have a national as the CEO and so to be a female is a great achievement for the Office”, Mr Bosoboe expressed”.
We the working team at the SIEO warmly welcome and look forward for working together with the new chief electoral officer in implementing many of the electoral reform areas that have been enabled in the 2018 Electoral Act, preparing towards 2023 National General Election.
Mrs Waetara shared her profound gratitude after the ceremony and said that she felt very happy and humbled to be entrusted with this great responsibility.
“I am so happy to join SIEO and thank the team for their confidence and trust in me to lead the office”, Mrs. Waetara uttered.
“I am expecting it not to be easy but I’ll do what I can do to work with the team of staff to faithfully fulfil my service to the Electoral Office and to Solomon Islands Government”, Mrs Waetara said.
“I know Election is not an easy task that ought not to be taken lightly”, she said. However, with the experience of the current SIEC team, I am confident to lead the team in implementing the Electoral Reform priorities.
Mrs. Waetara is from Manakwai in North Malaita who lived with her husband Mr. Augustine Waetara who is from Ulawa, Makira Province.
Mrs Waetara had a Master in Business Studies from the Massey University, New Zealand, Bachelor of Arts in Management and Economics from the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
She has held senior positions within Solomon Islands government with more than 20 years’ work experience with Solomon Islands Public Service. She was appointed as a Permanent Secretary for the Ministry for Development, Planning and Aid Coordination, the last post she held as a public servant.
Senior Positions She held in the past include;
Mrs Waetara has been recruited under a competitive recruitment process and yet stood out as the best candidate.
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