People’s Alliance complaint against the FijiFirst was bad in law – Saneem

Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem stresses that the People’s Alliance complaint against the FijiFirst was bad in law however the People’s Alliance Deputy Leader, Manoa Kamikamica maintains that the lines of probable independence remain blurred when persons performing their functions in their official capacities are handing out materials like pots and pans, and opening latrines during an election year.

Saneem says when the complaint was received, it was all against activities of government ministers.

He says the FEO saw that this was a complaint that they were addressing against FijiFirst on activities of government ministers acting in their official capacity.

The Supervisor says just to be sure, the FEO decided that because the People’s Alliance had named FijiFirst, they sent it to FijiFirst for a response.

Saneem asks why is Kamikamica complaining about all of this when their complaint was defective from the get-go.

Kamikamica maintains Saneem was already discrediting their complaint before due process was completed.

He says The People’s Alliance maintains that the responsibility of one government minister over several portfolios that to some extent deal with complaints raised with the Supervisor of Elections could still be seen to affect independence or impartiality.

Kamikamica says at the very least the FEO could have referred their complaint to the Electoral Commission for their opinion.

He reiterates that the Supervisor of Elections was quick to refer to FICAC a complaint lodged by the FijiFirst that was announced by its General Secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on the 20th of September, 2022.

Kamikamica says the very next day on the 21st – the SOE referred the matter to FICAC without providing The People’s Alliance the opportunity to respond.

He says in fact they were only asked to answer two items.

Kamikamica also says during this election year, there seems to be in increased activity of handouts conducted by elected officials on-the-ground, compared to previous years.

He says their party lawyers have been busy studying their next options as well.