Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum stressed that the Registration of Political Parties Decree applies to everybody equally.
Sayed-Khaiyum said when the Prime Minister forms his political party, that party will be bound by exactly the same rules.
Social Democratic Liberal Party’s official Doctor Tupeni Baba said SODELPA and its officials are ready to release their assets and liabilities to the Registrar of Political Parties however they will do it under protest.
Doctor Baba said the government should release all the Auditor General’s Reports from late 2006 to date and also release the salaries of all the ministers.
However, Sayed-Khaiyum said Doctor Baba’s claim that his party will be making a declaration of its assets and liabilities ‘under protest’, seems as if his party is being unfairly singled out.
Sayed-Khaiyum said in addition to the requirements of the Political Parties Decree, the Draft Constitution establishes an Accountability and Transparency Commission that will be responsible for enforcing Fiji’s first code of conduct for public officers, which the government will put in place in the next few months, as well as have unprecedented powers to investigate complaints against public office holders.
The Attorney General had earlier said that the ministers and people holding senior positions will reveal their assets and liabilities in about three months time.
Sayed-Khaiyum said no former government held political parties to a high standard of conduct and transparency, and no former government put in place a code of conduct for public officers, even though the 1997 constitution required it.
Meanwhile, as required in the Political Parties Decree, SODELPA, the National Federation Party and the Fiji Labour Party have to reveal their assets and liabilities within 30 days.
The assets and liabilities of the officials of the parties, their spouses and children also need to be revealed.
The Registrar of Political Parties will publish the information in a gazette and the media.
Any person who fails to comply with the requirements or provides information that is false, commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of up to $50,000 or up to 10 years imprisonment or both.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
Decree applies to everybody – AG
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