We need our parliament seats filled now - Seruiratu

We need our parliament seats to be filled and we want it to be done immediately.

This was the plea from the Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu to the coalition government during a press conference at the FijiFirst Party headquarters earlier today.

Seruiratu says the vacancy of the two seats in the opposition has not been considered as a matter of priority by the current government and it is unacceptable.

He says the coalition government finds time to do other businesses like travelling abroad and attending regional events rather than focusing on the important issues.

He adds the vacant seats have been due since February this year and the opposition was hoping that there will be admission into parliament and the swearing-in of the two opposition members to fill in the vacant seats in the scheduled parliament sitting this week, that has been deferred.

Seruiratu says this is important for the opposition because in politics, it is a game of numbers and they need 26 members in order to form the opposition and be the voice of the people in parliament.

Seruiratu also says the deferment of the parliament sitting that was supposed to take place this week to a later date is unacceptable as well as there are important issues that need to be raised that are matters of concern.

FijiFirst General Secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has also said that the Electoral Commission has not met to decide on the two seats because it does not have a quorum.

He says the Constitutional Offices Commission needs to appoint new members of the Electoral Commission as only Mukesh Nand and Ateca Ledua are current members of the commission.

Sayed-Khaiyum says this is a major delay and has affected the filling of their two vacant parliamentary seats, and their complaint is also pending against the Acting Supervisor of Elections.

fijivillage News has contacted Attorney General and member of the Constitutional Offices Commission, Siromi Turaga. He is expected to comment later.

Seruiratu also says the deferment of the parliament sitting that was supposed to take place this week to a later date is unacceptable as well as there are important issues that need to be raised that are matters of concern.