The registered officer of the Fiji Labour Party Mahendra Chaudhry has refused to make any comments on the declarations he made on his assets and liabilities.
Chaudhry said he has complied with the requirements when Fijivillage approached him to ask about the breakdown of his total assets amounting to $3.8 million.
He refused to comment further.
Meanwhile, National Federation Party President, Raman Pratap Singh responded that their party officials did not declare assets and liabilities of their children as they are over 18 years.
SODELPA is yet to comment.
The assets and liabilities of the officials and applicants of the three registered political parties have been published by the Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem.
However, many of the officials and applicants are not showing their sources of income in the declarations, some are not showing specific bank balances in different accounts here and abroad and many have not revealed the assets and liabilities of their children if they are over 18 years.
According to the Registration of Political Parties Decree, any official or applicant should provide a statement containing their total assets whether in Fiji or abroad, the total income in Fiji or abroad and the source of such income, any business connections, any directorships, any gifts received, any assets acquired by each of them whether in Fiji or abroad during the period to which the statement relates and the liabilities incurred or discharged by each of them.
This includes their spouses and children according to the decree.
Looking at the parties:
According to the declarations, the registered officer of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry has total assets amounting to $3.8 million while his wife Hannah Virmati has $78,000.
They say their children are above 18 years and financially independent.
The Chaudhry’s declaration also said that they do not have the financial information of their children and they are unable to provide that.
Others who have provided declarations in the FLP include Lavenia Padarath, Sachida Nand Sharma, David and Eleanor Eyre, Monica Raghwan, Kini Maraiwai, Surendra Lal and Udit Narayan.
Officials and applicants of the Social Democratic Liberal Party or SODELPA have also made their declarations.
Ro Teimumu Kepa of SODELPA has listed her net assets at $291,000 which includes $1,000 cash at bank, $250,000 for land and building and $40,000 for motor vehicle.
Many of the officials have only provided information on their spouses and not their children.
SODELPA official, Ratu Isikeli Komaisavai has signed the declarations however, the financial information details are blank.
Others who have provided declarations for SODELPA are Pio Tabaiwalu, Timoci Bulitavu, Isoa Kamarusi, Nanise Kinivuwai, Vilimone Soqeta, Ratu Silivenusi Tabakaucoro, Lote Yavuca and Ruci Karuru.
The National Federation Party’s Raman Pratap Singh, Virendra Singh, Jag Nadan, Dhani Ram, Mohammed Rafiq, Vishwa Nadan and Dalip Kumar have also made their declarations.
They have provided a breakdown of their assets, income and liabilities but the financial information of their children is not included in the declaration.
Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem said he will now verify the published particulars of the Fiji Labour Party, the National Federation Party and SODELPA for compliance with the Political Parties Decree.
Any member of the public who believes that the particulars provided are incorrect can contact Saneem.
According to the decree, any person who fails to comply with the requirements or provides information that is false, commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or both.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
