Opposition parties oppose new system of funding for parliamentary party offices

The Opposition parties, SODELPA and the National Federation Party have today come out and opposed the new system of funding for the parliamentary party offices.

Under the new arrangement, Secretary General to Parliament, Viniana Namosimalua states that each parliamentary party office will get $15,000 per Member of Parliament for the party for the running of the office including the hiring of staff and other expenses relating to the resourcing of the party offices.

According to Namosimalua’s letter to the FijiFirst, SODELPA and NFP, the FijiFirst will receive $480,000 a year, SODELPA will receive $225,000 a year while NFP will get $45,000.

This is based on the number of MP’s each party has in parliament.

The Secretary General to Parliament said this arrangement allows parties to be free to utilize these funds as they deem fit.

She said the parties will also choose whoever they want to appoint and pay them what they wish.

Staff appointed by political party offices will not be bound by the terms and conditions of the civil service such as retirement age since the staff will not be civil servants.

Parliament will continue to provide for cleaning services for the political party offices and meet other expenses such as meals, morning tea, and supply appropriate equipment, stationary and utility costs.

Namosimalua said it should be noted that the running of the parliamentary offices of political parties is separate from the responsibilities and functions of the elected government.

This new arrangement is effective from the 1st of this month.

All temporary appointments and extension of appointments of existing staff in the respective political party offices under civil service positions have been revoked with immediate effect.

Meanwhile Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa said they want the previous terms of staffing arrangements already in place to continue.

She also questions the government how the parties can get funding from the government if it is not allowed under the Political Parties Registration Decree.

Ro Teimumu also said under the new system the FijiFirst is likely to have a total of $1.2 million over the four year parliamentary term.

She claimed that the FijiFirst will use this to fund their 2018 general election campaign.

We have sent questions to the Secretary General, Viniana Namosimalua.

She said she will comment later

Fijivillage is also trying to speak to Finance Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.