Fiji has selected its new Elections Supervisor after the previous selected candidate withdrew.
According to reports from Fiji media, the new Supervisor of Elections is New Zealand lawyer, Felicity Heffernan.Fijilive reports that Constitutional Offices Commission chairman, Rishi Ram, 'confirmed Heffernan's appointment today after receiving the green light from Minister for Electoral Reforms and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum'.
Mr. Ram also added that 'Heffernan currently works as national solicitor with the Compliance and Law Department in NZ'.
According to the Fiji Times, Mr. Rishi Ram said 'Ms Heffernan is qualified with a Bachelor of Law from the University of Canterbury, a Masters Degree with Honours from Lincoln University and a Post Graduate Certificate in International Law from Melbourne University' and 'would be able to take up her post as the Supervisor of Elections as early as July and she would be in office for a term of three years'.
Ms. Heffernan's appointment comes after the previous selected candidate, Dr. Maurice Coughlan, withdrew from the post just last month amid controversy based on his previous disbarment in New Zealand.