National Federation Party suspended for 30 days

The National Federation Party has been suspended for 30 days with immediate effect for contravening the Political Parties Registration, Conduct Funding and Disclosures Decree.

The Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem says the NFP’s accounts were not audited by an accountant certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.

Saneem says this was brought to the Fijian Elections Office’s attention in December last year by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.

He says they asked the company engaged by NFP if it was a registered member of the Fiji Institute of Accountants, and senior management confirmed that it was not.

Saneem says this constitutes a breach of the Political Parties Decree.

The decree requires the accounts to be audited by an accountant certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.

Fijivillage questioned Biman Prasad about the matter. He could not give a clear answer.

Saneem says the NFP has 60 days to remedy the breach or face deregistration as a political party.

During this period of suspension, the NFP cannot operate, function, represent or hold itself out to be a political party.