Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry says he has written a complaint letter to the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem against the placement of campaign material by the FijiFirst Party on the Suva City Council Municipal Carpark Building situated on Edward Street in Suva.
Chaudhry says as far as he knows, the carpark building is a public building.
He also says it is not included in the list of places designated by the Supervisor of Elections, for placement of campaign material, as per the list emailed to political parties on 4th August 2022.
Chaudhry says the material (a huge 3 tier poster) is authorised by the General Secretary of the FijiFirst Party Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum of 57 Vunakece Road, Namadi Heights, Suva and printed by Go Advertising Pte Ltd., Lot 3 Auto City Place, Raiwaqa, Suva with date of issue stated as 8th October 2022.
It is stated to be paid for by Fiji First, 98 Brown Street, Suva.
Chaudhry says Section 112 (3) of the Electoral Act forbids the placement of campaign material on public buildings.
It states that it shall be unlawful for any person, political party or any candidate (or any person on behalf of the political party including any office holder of the political party or any person on behalf of any candidate) to place campaign posters and flags on public buildings, monuments, electricity or lamp posts and other public structures, except in public places specifically designated by the Supervisor of Elections for placement of campaign material.
Chaudhry says in his opinion the FijiFirst poster on the Suva City Council Carpark Building constitutes a serious breach of Section 112 (3) of the Act.
