Alvick speaks out

FijiFirst MP, Alvick Maharaj has called FijiFirst Party officials to be at least brave enough to admit it's personal rather than hiding behind excuses to terminate him.

While speaking to fijivillage News, Maharaj says he and others stood by Voreqe Bainimarama and his principles but if Bainimarama himself has blind-folded himself and with this recent development, as he has signed the letter that was delivered to the Speaker, he questions the legality of the termination and shall wait for a response from the Speaker, before deciding on the next step.

Maharaj says he is questioning his termination as a MP, and unfortunately, he must resort to the media to do so as FijiFirst believes in communicating through social media and letters rather than talking to its Members of Parliament before terminating its members.

He says he was caught by surprise when he received the termination letter without having a simple communication from the Central Executive Committee that he was under any kind of investigation.

He asks whether the decision to terminate him is personal or professional.

Maharaj says to date the reason is not clear as to why he was removed as Opposition Whip last year.

He says this time around he has been served with a termination letter with the reason provided for not voting in Parliamentary motion regarding the change in salaries and benefits.

The FijiFirst MP says during the discussion in the caucus meeting, he had informed everyone that he had reservations against the Emoluments Committee report, and he won't vote and this discussion took place in presence of the Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya.

He says he objected to the report in parliament, and it was aired live that he had opted not to vote.

Maharaj asks how did the FijiFirst Central Executive Committee come up with the decision that since he did not vote, he should be terminated.

He says the Central Executive Committee deliberately opted to disregard his speech where he opposed the motion.

Maharaj says the day the motion was tabled he had informed his caucus that he would not sign the report, but members along those members who voted no as well as those who abstained including the General Secretary (Faiyaz Koya) pressured him to sign the emoluments report. He asks if the party had objection to anyone not going to vote then why it was not communicated by the Acting General Secretary once the discussion took place in the caucus meeting on Friday morning and before the motion was debated.

Maharaj says this also raises the question if the Acting General Secretary Koya even has any powers to make decisions or is just a mouthpiece of someone.

He asks whether the question was sent by Koya or it was sent to him and copied and pasted in their Viber group.

Maharaj says it seems like the party assumed if he would have voted, it would have been yes.

He says FijiFirst talks about unity, democracy, and dialogue and here they are getting terminated without having a single discussion between the concerned MP’s and party.

The FijiFirst MP says this raises serious concern if the Central Executive Committee or founding members of the party had a personal agenda against him and opted to terminate him using what transpired as an excuse.

He says he would also like to question why his letter is signed by the Acting General Secretary and not by the President of the party.

He adds if the new party president opted not to be the rubber stamp of the party then he would like to personally thank the new president for holding the moral ground.

The Speaker has not said anything regarding the FijiFirst terminating 17 of their MPs.

Faiyaz Koya and former General Secretary and party Foundation member, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum are not making any comments.

Stay with us for developments.