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But, all that litigation is on the event horizon….there are no court matters to be heard before May 8th; so, it should be smooth sailing to referendum day.  

And that means the political parties are warming up their engines. Earlier Chief Elections Officer Josephine Tamai  acknowledged that the major political party machinery increases the voter turnout.

Today, Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber made no apologies when he said the UDP will be on the ground on referendum day getting voters to the polls. Here is how he put it.

Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education
"Well firstly it is not a red or blue issue, it is not a political, a party politics issue as is normally the case for the elections and so to begin with inside the counting room while we will have representation from the two major political parties, we will also have representation from the other entities that have a stake, I think the chief elections officer determined that by looking at who is represented at the national assembly so invitations were sent to the churches, I believe to the unions, to the business community and the NGO community for them to be able to put a representative in each of those polling stations so that is the kind of difference, nobody should be taking this thing along party lines although to be honest it has been drawn down that road so to speak."

"People should feel free to come out to participate freely without coercion also we stress that it is the government’s position that we support a yes vote but it is not that the government is saying you have to do that by hook or by crook. And again this referendum is binding on us so whatever the decision of the people if it is a yes that is what the government intends to do if it is a no that is what the government intends to do."

Reporter
"So on May 8th we are not expected to see people with red shirts people getting people out of their homes and it is just."

Hon. Patrick Faber
"Now well I didn’t say that, the UDP has a position and the PUP has also made clear their position and nobody can stop political parties from trying to do what they need to do in order to get the kind of outcome they feel is right. And yes our parties machinery and equipment will be out full force to try to secure the UDP’s position which so happens to be the government’s position as well, a yes vote."

A simple majority of the total number of ballots cast will determine the outcome of the votes. The referendum will be held next week Wednesday May 8th.