Political parties should only provide disclosures and information to the Registrar of Political Parties – Maharaj

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, Alvick Maharaj says political parties should only provide disclosures and information to the Registrar of Political Parties and it should be made available at the Office of the Registrar in Suva for inspection by members of the public upon payment of an approved fee.

He made these comments while tabling the report on the Review of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act in parliament today which provides details of the Committee’s review process and includes initial deliberation, public consultation and identification of key findings, and outcome of the review.

Maharaj says they believe that it would also be beneficial to the electoral process in Fiji, that the period of 30 days to provide financial details to the Electoral Commission to assess the election spending and to allow the Registrar to assess a political party’s election spending and compliance with other laws be extended to 60 days.

He says this will hopefully provide the political parties ample time to submit their financials.

Maharaj says they also believe that the publication of the audited accounts should be sufficient, if it is published through the Fijian Elections Office official website.

He says with regards to the concern raised regarding the authority given to the Electoral Commission to be the final decision maker for appeals against the Registrar of Political Parties; if the Electoral Commission is charged with hearing of appeals, it is simply carrying out its own role under the Constitution.

Maharaj adds they were advised that according to the Fijian Constitution, the Electoral Commission is already an independent body whose Chair is someone who is either a judge or qualified to be a judge and the proceedings of the Electoral Commission are similar to those as the High Court.

He says the laws should empower the institution directly responsible for elections instead of surrounding it with other institutions that siphon power from it and weaken the institution.

The Bill will be debated and voted upon on Monday.