Assets and liabilities should be declared – Prof. Narsey

Candidates and politicians need to declare their assets and liabilities so that people can see that they are not feathering their nests through their parliamentary decisions.

Electoral Law Reform Commissioner and economist, Professor Wadan Narsey highlighted this during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan when asked if they will still profess for the declaration of assets and liabilities.

While responding to the question, Commission’s Chair and former Chief Justice, Daniel Fatiaki says at first, he thought why bother with these things, however he believes it's important.

Fatiaki says Fiji needs politicians who already have a certain level of comfort and not those who are penniless to be standing.

He says politicians need to have a certain level of self-independence.

The Chair says Electoral Laws and most of the laws need to be de-weaponised, as this has happened with the laws over the past 16 years.

Fatiaki says when he was growing up, laws were a protector, and that was its function.

He adds that if laws can not be rational and it can not justify their existence, then it should not be a law.

Fatiaki and Professor Narsey are part of the Commission to review the electoral system of Fiji. Nationwide consultations for the electoral law reform start tomorrow at the Suva Civic Centre from 10am-2pm and then 3-6pm.