By Hilaire Bule and Len Garae in Vanuatu
Chairman of the Vanuatu Electoral Commission Photo: RNZ Pacific/Hilaire Bule
The Vanuatu Electoral Commission has listed the names of 219 people to contest the Vanuatu snap election on October 13.
The election was triggered after the dissolution of the country's parliament on August 19 by President Nikenike Vurobaravu, and on the eve of a motion of no-confidence against the now caretaker prime minister Bob Loughman.
Our correspondent in Vanuatu said 61 of the candidates are former MPs.
Electoral campaigns by political parties and independent candidates are well underway across the islands.
RNZ Pacific correspondent in Port Vila Len Garae said the air is filled with deafening, toe-tapping music from giant speakers on vehicles, as candidates compete against each other through loud hailers to attract new voters throughout urban Port Vila as well as the rural areas.
Electoral campaigns by political parties and independent candidates are well underway across the islands. Photo: RNZI Jamie Tahana
"The same spirit is reported throughout all six Provinces of Vanuatu," Garae said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Electoral Commission said the snap election will cost about US$1.2 million.
Edward Kaltamat said according to the Australian High Commission in Port Vila, Canberra will also step in to assist financially, without naming an amount.
Meanwhile, there are allegations some candidates in the Port Vila constituency are buying votes.
Reliable sources said told the Daily Post that certain candidates are offering money and are even proposing an amount of money if an individual presents a list of one hundred voters.
Kaltamat stressed such actions, if true, are corrupt practices and a breach of voters' constitutional rights to vote for their candidate.
He said vote-buying forces voters to support a different candidate, rather than a candidate of their choice.
"We want a fair and transparent election," Kaltamat stressed.
A source from the police said such allegations are serious and people should lodge a report with the police if they are approached with such offers.
The Daily Post has received information that there are also similar allegations in other constituencies, apart from Port Vila.
This is not the first time allegations of bribery have surfaced in the lead-up to a general election in Vanuatu.
302000 registered voters are expected to cast their vote this Thursday.
Kaltamat confirmed that the names of registered voters date back to 1980, so there are duplications.
He said dead people are still on the electoral roll and they can only remove their names if they received the dead certificate.
- The Vanuatu Daily Post