The Registrar of Political Parties has lifted the suspension of the People’s Democratic Party to allow the PDP to comply with the Political Parties Act and it has also been revealed that FTUC National Secretary Felix Anthony also attended a PDP management board meeting.

Mohammed Saneem says following the receipt of various documents from the PDP, they have established that the officials had neglected and/or failed to ensure that they had properly implemented the requirements of the PDP constitution in particular, in relation to the appointment of an acting President following the resignation of Lynda Tabuya so that the party was able to duly comply with the requirements of the Act.

Saneem says they lifted the suspension so that PDP can hold a proper management board meeting as per its constitution and then appoint various office holders who can then sign off on the application required under the Political Parties Act.

Saneem says the meeting of PDP Management Board on 7th December last year noted that the minutes of this meeting were recorded by (the now resigned) Lynda Tabuya, the then President, and not the General Secretary as required by the PDP constitution.

The Supervisor of Elections and Registrar notes that the constitution of PDP requires the presence of 5 Management Board members as quorum.

He says in this case, it is noted that Felix  Anthony, despite being present in the meeting, was not a member of the Management Board and therefore the meeting did not meet  the quorum required

Saneem says following the resignation of Lynda Tabuya as  President, the PDP was required under it’s constitution to temporarily fill the vacancy via a vice president voted by a majority of the Management Board.

Saneem says it is noted that only Vijay Singh resigned as Vice  President of the party.

On the basis of the findings, the Registrar has found that the absence of various office holders in PDP breaches its own constitution and has therefore required the PDP to rectify this breach.

The PDP has until 28th February to remedy the breach failing  which de‑registration procedures under the Act will activate.