IfG.CC - The Institute for eGovernment

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Finance ICT Support Unit made the submission for government support in late 2010 and in November 2012 CBO was awarded the $3.25 million contract to build a Metro Area Network (MAN) as a single use network for public sector agencies.

Together with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), an intergovernmental organisation, the government will use Pacific Rural Internet Connectivity System (PacRICs) to provide internet access to over 20 hospitals and schools in the country.

Internet connection will be shared by the health centre or hospital, police station, provincial government office, agriculture office and the National Disaster Management Office. It will also be available to the private sector.

Biometric voting system will be used in next year’s national general election.

It was launched last month and awareness on voting and how registration will be carried out will be explained to people during the awareness programs.

The chief electoral officer in Solomon Islands has defended the country's new biometric voter registration system.

Polycarp Haununu says any technical problems with the system, which was launched on Monday, have now been fixed.

Speaking in parliament during the debate of the electoral Bill was already passed, Mr Maelanga said the system will would be credible and should be trusted.

He explained that the Bill is necessary for the effective and efficient administration of the Electoral system.

Together with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) the government will use Pacific Rural Internet Connectivity System (PacRICs) to provide internet access to over 20 hospitals and schools in the country.

Internet connection will be shared by the health centre or hospital, police station, provincial government office, agriculture office and the National Disaster Management Office. It will also be available to the private sector.

Called the Biometric Voter Registration, the system is expected to solve problems normally faced during voting such as double voting and or voting on other people’s names.

The Solomon Islands Electoral Commission held the launching at the National Museum to mark the start of the Biometric Voters Registration Campaign.

The National ICT Policy Project began last year within the Ministry of Communications, Aviation & Information Technology (‘MCAIT’), with support from the World Bank and technical assistance by Dr Andrew Simpson.

“We are consulting widely,” says Dr Simpson, “with the aim of obtaining views and comments from the broadest possible range of people, groups and businesses in Solomon Islands.”

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Fred Fakari’i made the appeal yesterday at the launch of the biometric registration system.

While encouraging everyone to come forward and register starting in the new year, Mr Fakari’i urged everyone to be honest whe providing their personal details to registration officers.

It said people will be caught with their biometric details in the revision and subsequent data-matching process.

“We call on all responsible citizens to help preserve the integrity and credibility of the election process,” interim chairman Barnabas Henson, said.

Biometric voter registration to be introduced at the upcoming national general election at the end of this year is a highly advanced biometric information system designed to address the need of a robust and secure voter registration and identification system.