Chaudhry questions the delay in the appointment of Electoral Commission Chairman

The Fiji Labour Party has questioned why a chairperson is still not appointed to head the Electoral Commission following the resignation of former Chairperson Suresh Chandra last November.

Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says it is now almost three months since Chandra’s resignation and the Commission remains dysfunctional because of the absence of a chairperson.

He says a lawfully constituted Commission is not in place and there is no oversight over the activities of the Fijian Elections Office and the Supervisor of Elections.

Chaudhry says under the Electoral Act, the Commission has the responsibility and authority to formulate policy and oversee the conduct of elections, including registration of voters.

He questions why is a chairperson not being appointed when we are just a few months from when an early election can be called.

Chaudhry says it is improper that the commission be left in a state of limbo when it should be actively discharging its functions as prescribed in Electoral Act.

Meanwhile members of the Electoral Commission had earlier said that the Commission continues to operate and discharge its roles and functions under the Fijian Constitution and Electoral laws. The members say under section 5 of the Electoral Act, a quorum is formed by at least 4 members of the Commission and as such the roles and functions of the Electoral Commission continue to be discharged.

They say while the Commission members work on a part time basis, the FEO operates a full time secretariat headed by the Supervisor of Elections.

We have sent questions to the Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and the Secretary of the Constitutional Offices Commission and Acting Solicitor General Preetika Prasad regarding the appointment of a new Electoral Commission Chairperson. We have also sent questions to the Supervisor of Elections and Secretary to the Electoral Commission, Mohammed Saneem.

According to the Constitution, the Chairperson and members of the Electoral Commission shall be appointed by the President on the advice of the Constitutional Offices Commission.

They are yet to respond.