Registrar has misquoted the information NFP gave him – Prasad

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad has today said that the Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem has misquoted the information NFP gave him while Saneem says Prasad has not disputed that the NFP spent only $2,154 for Cyclone Winston relief or rebuilding efforts from a fund that had accumulated $22,736.95 in 2017.

Professor Prasad says Saneem alleges that the NFP Relief and Welfare Fund made only $2,154 for cyclone relief payments.

He adds Saneem should ask them for clarification and Saneem should not hold press conferences making accusations about things he has misunderstood.

The NFP Leader says Saneem originally asked them for information about the bank account set up for the Relief and Welfare Fund payments adding they have given him that information, in good faith.

Prasad says they have explained to him why some Relief and Welfare Fund payments did not come out of that bank account.

He says this is because the Parliament Secretariat did not pay money into that account for many months and in 2016 alone NFP spent $10,600 in relief payments before any Parliamentary money was received.

Prasad adds Saneem has simply published a list of payments out of that bank account.

He says Saneem knows full well that this is not the full amount of their Relief and Welfare Fund payments adding they will publish more details of all Relief and Welfare Fund payments later this week.

Prasad says many payments were made to individuals who needed support and they are taking advice on what they can disclose about these payments.

He says they want their members and supporters to know how the money was spent – regardless of Saneem’s opinions.

Saneem says any other expenses or disclosures that the party may have with-held from the Registrar is irrelevant to the handling of this fund.

Meanwhile, Saneem yesterday revealed that the funds from the NFP Relief and Welfare Fund were also used for other party expenses apart from Cyclone Winston relief.

Saneem says the NFP used $20,582.15 for general party expenses such as buying office supplies and payment of individuals.

He adds that the NFP has not been referred to FICAC for helping the people as claimed by the NFP.

He highlighted that $3,600 was paid to NFP President, Pio Tikoduadua.

Saneem says that from the 50 transactions from the Welfare Fund, only 6 were made for relief purposes.

He adds the first disbursement was made in 2017.

Meanwhile, National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad had said on Friday that Fiji’s politics have now become completely absurd after the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem confirmed that Prasad will be referred to FICAC.

Prasad says the Registrar now wants him to be investigated for donating money for Cyclone Winston relief.

He says in 2016 all of Fiji’s parliamentarians voted to increase their parliamentary allowances.

Prasad says only NFP’s parliamentarians voted against it.

The NFP Leader says they refused to accept the increase and it was given to the NFP Relief and Welfare Fund.

Prasad says they also asked the Parliament Secretariat to divert a portion of their salaries to the NFP Relief and Welfare Fund bank account.

He says in 2016, $2,352 came to that account from his salary and in 2017 the amount was $18,816.

The NFP Leader says Prem Singh also contributed to the account from his salary and allowances.

He says the NFP Relief and Welfare Fund made donations exceeding $27,000 between 2016 and 2017, purely from the contributions of salaries and allowances.

Prasad says the Parliament Secretariat did not process any payments into that fund until the end of 2016 but people needed support immediately. He says he advanced personal funds and NFP also agreed to advance party funds for the purpose of the Relief and Welfare Fund, to be reconciled later.

He says now the Supervisor of Elections is claiming that the money Prasad put into the Relief and Welfare Fund are “donations” to NFP which exceed $10,000.

Prasad says in their 2016 and 2017 accounts, the Relief and Welfare Fund was consolidated by their auditors with their party operations. He says they still have the bank account but it is now used for different purposes. The NFP Leader says they never thought the day would come when they would be investigated for trying to help people after Cyclone Winston and providing relief and welfare assistance but this is political life in Fiji now.