The Commerce Commission is expected to make a decision today on the official complaint of the three political parties regarding the advertising cost of the declaration of their assets and liabilities.
Yesterday was the deadline for the National Federation Party, the Social Democratic and Liberal Party and the Fiji Labour Party to pay for the publication costs.
SODELPA has been billed 26 thousand dollars by the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem for the publishing of the declaration in the Fiji Sun a few weeks ago.
SODELPA General Secretary, Pio Tabaiwalu said they paid the 26 thousand dollars to the Registrar yesterday afternoon.
National Federation Party President, Raman Pratap Singh said NFP has also paid the $5,796 for the publication of their declaration of assets and liabilities.
However Singh said they are now awaiting the determination of the Commerce Commission.
Singh has also written to the Registrar of Political Parties, saying that the Registrar's argument that NFP did not object to the publication in the Fiji Sun is illogical.
He also said that NFP is alarmed at the Registar's claim that the Political Parties Decree does not permit the party to negotiate the rates charged for the publication of the declarations.
Meanwhile the Fiji Labour Party is awaiting decision from the Commerce Commission in relation to their payment.
It has been confirmed that the Labour Party has been billed over $6000 for the publication.
When contacted, Mohammed Saneem said they will not make any comments as they are following the Political Parties Decree.
Story by: Vijay Narayan/Ronal Deo
