The social media accounts of the FijiFirst Party, New Generation Party and All People’s Party are now offline after they were suspended for 30 days yesterday for contravening Section 26(2) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding & Disclosures) Act.
However We Unite Fiji Party’s account still exists on the social media platform this morning.
While confirming the suspension, Acting Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa said Section 26(2) of the Act requires all parties to provide to the Registrar, within 3 months after the end of each financial year, the record of accounts of its income, expenditure, assets and liabilities audited by an auditor certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.
Mataiciwa says these political parties were given a one-month extension to submit all accounts and other disclosures by 29th April 2023.
However, until yesterday, the FijiFirst, New Generation, We Unite Fiji and All People’s Party had not complied with these requirements.
The Acting Supervisor of Elections says the parties are suspended for 30 days and have 60 days to remedy the breach/contravention or face deregistration as a political party.
During the period of suspension, the suspended parties cannot operate, function, represent or hold itself out to be a political party.
When contacted yesterday afternoon, Leader of Opposition, Inia Seruiratu referred all questions regarding the party’s suspension to the General Secretary of the FijiFirst, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Seruiratu says they were clearing out their parliamentary office and informing other Members of Parliament.
When asked on what happens to the party’s office and presence on the media platforms as the Acting Supervisor says they cannot hold themselves out to be a party during their suspension, Seruiratu says they are trying to get legal advice.
But he states they will follow the law.
We sought a response from Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. He has not made any comments as yet.
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