The Social Democratic and Liberal Party is calling on the Registrar of Political Parties to provide the definition of a child under the Political Parties Decree.
SODELPA, the Fiji Labour Party and the National Federation Party have until June 7th to declare their assets and liabilities to the Registrar of Political Parties.
The parties, the applicants of the parties and their executives have to reveal all their assets and liabilities.
According to the Political Parties Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures Decree, the spouses and children of the applicants and executives also have to reveal their assets and liabilities.
SODELPA’s senior official, Doctor Tupeni Baba said they have serious issues in relation to their adult children having to declare their assets and liabilities as they have moved on and started off their own families.
Doctor Baba said SODELPA has raised the issue with the Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem this morning.
Fijivillage has received information that a child in the decree means any children of the party officials or applicants irrespective of their age.
We have sent queries to the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on the matter.
Meanwhile, the National Federation Party had earlier condemned the requirement for applicants who are party office holders to declare the assets and financial positions of spouses and children.
NFP President said that is totally unacceptable, especially more so for cases where the children are totally independent, are married, and settled either locally or abroad and have absolutely no interest or link whatsoever to the party.
When approached by Fijivillage on whether the Fiji Labour Party is ready with it’s declaration of assets and liabilities, FLP Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry said they will deal with it as and when it is necessary.
Chaudhry said the matter is between the party and the Registrar of Political Parties.
According to the decree, all these declarations will published in the media and gazetted.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
