FLP's Suva Branch Interim President resigns from FLP, says reform efforts fell on deaf ears

Former Interim President of the Fiji Labour Party’s (FLP) Suva branch, Satish Kumar has announced his resignation from the party, saying months of attempts to push for internal reforms fell on deaf ears, leaving him with no confidence in the party’s governance or direction, however FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says Kumar faced disciplinary action for allegedly submitting what the party considered a fraudulent document.

Speaking to fijivillage News, Kumar says his decision to resign came after continuous frustrations over ineffective leadership, lack of transparency, and constitutional flaws within the party.

He says a key factor behind his departure was the party’s resistance to discussions around leadership succession.

He adds that despite numerous efforts put in to bring about the desired changes and make FLP more relevant and geared towards the upcoming general election, all the suggestions and positive contributions were falling on deaf ears.

Kumar says he and others had repeatedly raised concerns regarding the age and long-term viability of the party leader, who is 83-years-old and will be 85-years-old by the time of the next general election.

He says the Suva branch submitted a resolution proposing that no person over the age of 70 should hold an executive position for more than two years to ensure responsible succession planning, however, within an hour of submitting the resolution, an investigation was launched at the party headquarters, which is a troubling response to a legitimate proposal.

Kumar says that repeated requests for basic governance practices, such as circulating minutes, financial papers, and substantive documents at least seven days prior to meetings, were dismissed, with the General Secretary reportedly saying it was conventional practice not to distribute such information

He says that several senior members of the FLP were unfamiliar with the party’s own constitution, despite it being the foundational document guiding all internal processes.

He adds that he personally asked long-serving board members whether they had read the constitution in recent decades, and many admitted they had not looked at it for more than 25 years.

Kumar says this is extremely concerning, as some of the very people responsible for decision-making do not even know the governing rules of the party.

He says that even after writing formally to the General Secretary and Party President requesting confirmation of which version of the constitution was currently valid, he received no response.

He says this lack of clarity suggested the party was being operated as a one-person show, rather than under proper democratic processes.

Kumar also raised concerns about the abrupt relocation of the Annual Delegates Conference (ADC) from Suva to Nadi, saying that Suva branch members had completed all logistical preparations at the request of the General Secretary, yet the conference was moved without any consultation.

He further says that the FLP has failed to meaningfully commemorate its 40th anniversary this year, with no events planned apart from today’s ADC, and adds that even his request to pay tribute to the party’s first Prime Minister, the late Dr Timoci Bavadra, in the West went unanswered.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry confirmed that during Wednesday's Management Board meeting, Kumar was present and given the opportunity to defend himself.

Speaking to fijivillage News, he says the Board unanimously agreed to refer Kumar to the National Council for Disciplinary Action.

Chaudhry says Kumar used allegedly used a fraudulent document to try and get a resolution into the conference, and for this he was to be disciplined.