FCOSS blames poor planning for poll deferral

The Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) executive director, Vani Catanasiga, says the coalition government's decision to defer the local government elections reflects years of poor planning.

However, Ms Catanasiga accepts it as the practical thing to do.

Local government elections – the first since 2005 – had been scheduled for September 2026 before Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announced this week, they would be pushed back to after the General Election.

Mr Rabuka cited the $18 million cost and a packed electoral calendar that also includes a constitutional referendum and general elections.

Ms Catanasiga said the deferral, while disappointing, was not surprising.

"It's a very practical decision but it goes back to planning – what we've seen is planning is very poor in terms of how the coalition government has pushed all of the major activities to this last year of their term," she said.

She said young Fijians who had never voted in a local election were among those most let down.

"Our current young generation, they haven't voted in one. I spoke to a lot of young people who are looking forward to it," she said.

But Ms Catanasiga urged the government to use the time to reflect.

"It's good for leaders to go back to the drawing board and look at how they're doing their planning," she said.

She thanked the government for being upfront about the decision.

"It may have been difficult but good on them for being upfront about these things," she said.