Fiji’s Acting Registrar of Political Parties has suspended four political parties, including the FijiFirst party, and two other parties including the People Alliance Party have been fined over failure to comply with certain financial disclosure provisions outlined in the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding & Disclosures) Act, 2013 [“Act”].
If they do not rectify the breach within the specified timeframe, all six parties face deregistration,
FijiFirst, All Peoples Party, New Generation Party and We Unite Fiji Party have been suspended for 30 days after failing to provide the Registrar their financial accounts, as per section 26(2) of the Act despite being given a month’s extension.
During the 30 days, the four parties are prohibited from operating, functioning, representing themselves, or holding themselves out as a political party. They have 60 days to rectify the breach/contravention or face deregistration.
Acting Supervisor of Elections (ASoE) Ana Mataiciwa stated that Section 26(2) of the Act, requires all parties to provide to the Registrar, within three months after the end of each financial year, the record of accounts of its income, expenditure, asset, and liabilities audited by an auditor certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.
“All political parties were given a one-month extension to submit all accounts and other disclosures by 29 April 2023. However, until today, the four named parties have not complied with these requirements,” said Mataiciwa.
Meanwhile along with People’s Alliance, Social Democratic Liberal Party have been fined for failing to submit their list of sources of funds by 29 April 2023. As per section 23(4) of the Act, the two parties are liable to a penalty of $100 for each day they do not comply. If they fail to comply by 29 May 2023, they will be deregistered as well.
“All non-complying parties have been reminded that failure to submit will result in deregistration,” Mataiciwa said.
