The interim government believes that the visiting European Parliament delegation now has a clear understanding why elections cannot be held in March 2009.
Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum who met with the delegation in Nadi today, said he told the delegation that the Elections Office has already announced that they will be ready to have elections in 12 to 15 months after there is an agreement on electoral reforms.
Sayed-Khaiyum said a number of issues were addressed including the process which is being followed to discuss the proposed electoral reforms through the political dialogue forum.
Fijivillage also asked Sayed-Khaiyum what he had to say about the European Parliament delegation's statement that they see no reason on why elections cannot be held in 2009, that the interim government is not seriously taking steps towards parliamentary democracy and that the delegation could not confirm that credible and timely preparations for elections are underway in Fiji.
He confirmed that discussions were centered on this issue and it has been made clear that electoral reforms have to be agreed to first.
The former Supervisor of Elections is today questioning the Elections Office on why it is waiting for the final decision of the People's Charter and political forum on the voting system.
Semesa Karavaki said the Elections Office is an independent institution and it does not need to find out whether a new voting system will be implemented as the voting system to be used in an election is stated in the constitution and Electoral Act.
He said a new system is not needed as it would not be approved by an elected parliament before the next elections.
Karavaki said there should be no more excuses as elections can be held in 2009.
The Development Committee for the European Parliament after a three day visit to Fiji on concerns on the country's economic development, the sugar industry development and the broken promise that elections be held next year, said they see no reason why elections cannot be held next year.
Delegation Head, Gabriele Zimmer, through interpreter Daniel Pashley, said they are also of the view that the Interim Government is not working towards elections.
Meanwhile, funding for the Sugar Industry for 2008 and 2009 will remain on hold as the Development Committee for the European Parliament could not confirm that credible and timely preparations for elections are underway.
The EU funding for 2008 for the Sugar Industry was $334 million and this was put on hold after the events of December 5th with the condition that it would be released if there were genuine attempts at moving the country forward to parliamentary democracy by March next year.
Feature
EU Understands Elections can’t Be Held
