Parties are only asking for people to be fired but are not giving any solutions – AG

The Minister Responsible for Elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says political parties are only asking for people to be fired but are not giving any solutions after Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry said that the Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem has to go if Fiji is to have free and fair general elections next year.

In a statement, Chaudhry says Saneem continues to play politics, accusing opposition leaders and certain media organisations of creating confusion and misleading the voters on voter registration, when as a constitutional office holder he is required to do his work without making political statements.

Chaudhry says Saneem has been rebuked twice by the courts for making his own rules.

He says Section 51(2) of the Electoral Act states specifically if a registered voter does not have any identification card or any other form of identification, the Supervisor or presiding officer must take necessary measures to verify the identification of the voter including the verification of the voter’s thumbprint or asking the voter such questions as necessary to verify his or her identity.

When questioned by fijivillage, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says unfortunately political parties are making this kind of comments because they are trying to be relevant.

Sayed-Khaiyum says you need to look at what is happening in the law and the announcements made by government in respect to how they are going to address these issues.

He adds having one identification for one individual makes sense and makes things easier for everybody.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the political parties are just saying that the system will not work however none of them have given a solution.

He adds government is in a space to ensure that people get back to their sustainable livelihoods by providing them with assistance but the Opposition is saying government is giving them freebies.

We have sent questions to Saneem however he is yet to respond.

Saneem has said that although a voter is registered for life, the green voter card is expired and people need to get the upgraded card.

If you need to upgrade to a blue voter card and also have a name registered in the Voter List that is not your birth certificate name, you can make the amendments by taking the birth certificate.

Saneem also says they will also update the names of those that bring in a new birth certificate with their updated name from the Births, Deaths and Marriages Office.

Parliament has passed the Electoral Registration of Voters Amendment Bill which now requires the application for registration as a voter to state the person’s full name as specified on his or her birth certificate and to also be accompanied by his or her birth certificate.

The next general election may take place between the 9th of July 2022 and the 9th of January 2023.