A total of sixty-four nominations were received by the Chief electoral officer Darren Toho-vaka at the close of nominations last week for the Village Council Elections. Sixty-two nominations accepted with more than half or thirty-three of them, women.
Tohovaka explained that the two nominations declined, one was from Lakepa where the person nominating the candidate was not registered on the Lakepa roll and the other was from the village of Vaiea, the person had nominated two candidates which is not permitted according to the electoral laws where an elector can nominate only one candidate.
In two of the small villages of Toi and Namukulu all the nominations are women.
The village council elections will take place on Saturday 31st of this month, the same day as the public referendum on the four constitutional amendment bills.
On Tuesday morning, the Chief Electoral Officer Darren Tohovaka provided public notice number 4 regarding the Village Council Elections advising the names of candidate nominations received and accepted by him.
As at the deadline at 12pm today for any candidates who wish to withdraw there were none.
Three villages had fewer than 5 names nominated. The villages of Vaiea and Toi only had 3 candidates nominated.
VAIEA (3)
TALAITI, Merry Madaniel
TALAITI, Takala
TALAITI, Tuaitama
TOI (3)
MUIMATAGI, Lilivika
TOKIMUA, Pualino
WOODS, Winnie Taleni Seu
The smallest village electorate on the island is the village of Namukulu with only 5 registered voters could only nominate 2 candidates. The Chief Electoral Officer Darren Tohovaka said in the radio programme yesterday that the law is clear, one voter can nominate one candidate but Tohovaka said the village can appoint officials such as a treasurer and secretary for the Village Council who don’t have to be elected members.
The two names nominated for the Namulu Village Council are;
NAMUKULU (2)
HILIGUTU, Kilimana
SIONETUATO, Fenogalaia
Four villages will go to the polls Makefu, Liku, Lakepa and Mutalau. The electors of those villages will be voting for five village councilors from the following candidates;
MAKEFU (6)
LOLANI, Tioneatali Kemusiaki
POIHEGA, Etaena
PULETAMA, Marcus
TALAGI, Mary Anne
TOHOVAKA, Charles
TOHOVAKA, Ernie Judy
LIKU (6)
KAIUHA, Trina
POUMALE, Christian
POUMALE, Newland Tulitoatama
PULEHETOA, Sifakalipa McMillan
PULEHETOA, Sionetasi
TOMINIKO, Simi
LAKEPA (6)
KONELIO, Tongariro Reekie
MAGATOGIA, Myrtle Hanisi
TIAKIA, Luando Meteor
TIAKIA, Trevor
TOGIAMANA, Ezra Kenneth
TOGIAVALU, David
MUTALAU (7)
BOURNE, Pelenato
MATAGIAGA, Emeline
PAKA, Harry Seddon T
PULEFOLAU, Jean Elota
TAUEFASI, Meleki
TOGAKILO, Dave Balakula
TOGAKILO, Moka Heleena
These are the names from the villages with 5 nomination candidates received and after 12 midday today, with no nominations withdrawn the Chief Electoral Officer will in due course declare the following candidates duly elected.
HIKUTAVAKE (5)
HIPA, Emi
PIPITOLU, Olevai
PULEHETOA, Felicity Iulioonta
TOHOVAKA, Antony Guz
VAKANOFITI, Peter
TUAPA (5)
IKIHELE, Kulupatau
IKITULE, Harris
MOKALEI, Halafoou
MOKALEI, Priscilla Iloilo
SIONETAMA, Sione Pokau
ALOFI TOKELAU (5)
KAULIMA, Sione
PEARSON, Ngiar Estalui Tibora
SIOSIKEFU, Haven
SIOSIKEFU, Margaret
STRICKLAND, Ane
ALOFI TOGA (5)
HEKAU, Robin
HEKAU-HARDING, Anthea
PASENE-MIZZIEBO, Ettie Lotomaanu
REX, Alana Fiafia Richmond
VILIAMU, Narita
TAMAKAUTOGA (5)
PAOLA, Tafakato Huipunu
PUHEKE, Hiki Togia
PUHEKE, Lavea Amanaki
TALAGI, John Divine Paola
TAVITA, Matakai Tina
AVATELE (5)
HETUTU, Hetututama Speedo
HETUTU, Taihia
LAUFOLI, Emeline
LAUFOLI, Jody
TUPUILIU, Tifaga
HAKUPU (5)
MAUTAMA, Pacific Enterprise
SILIGI, Patlin
SIOHANE, Andre Maurice
TOMAILUGA, Dempster J S
TUKUITOGA, Itzy Viviani
Polls will open from 9am to 6pm on Saturday next week the 31st of August for the village council elections in the villages of Makefu, Liku, Lakepa and Mutalau and for all fourteen villages for the Public Referendum.