FijiFirst founding member and leader Voreqe Bainimarama, founding members Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Salesh Kumar, party President Ratu Joji Satalaka, Vice President Selai Adimaitoga, Acting General Secretary Faiyaz Koya and Treasurer Hem Chand have resigned from their positions.
Sayed-Khaiyum says the other Vice President Ravindran Nair has also resigned.
He says the resignation letters were given to the Registrar of Political Parties on Friday.
Sayed-Khaiyum says what happens to the party now is the decision of the Registrar of Political Parties.
Those who have resigned from the FijiFirst Party are Bainimarama, Sayed-Khaiyum, Kumar, Satakala and Adimaitoga.
He says Koya and Chand will remain Members of Parliament.
While explaining the decision, Sayed-Khaiyum says the Leader and the Acting General Secretary, sent a letter to the Speaker informing him about the directives that were issued by the party that were not followed by the 17 MPs and on the same evening, the Supervisor of Elections started sending out messages or letters to the FijiFirst General Secretary about the deregistration of the party.
He says FICAC kicked into action where the FijiFirst party’s office, Koya’s house, his house and office law firm’s office were searched last week.
Sayed-Khaiyum says Bainimarama was questioned as to how or when he signed a letter in prison.
He says they believe the 17 that supported the pay rise will carry on supporting those type of policies and those who have resigned cannot be a part of that.
While addressing the 17 MPs, he says it is quite sad that having aligned themselves with a leader like Bainimarama and FijiFirst, they did not specifically adhere to the values and principles that have been laid out in the FijiFirst Constitution.
We have sent questions to Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa. She is yet to respond.
