For the first time ever, political parties, their candidates and officials have to declare what they earn, what they own, and what they owe.
However questions are being raised on whether proper verification is being carried out to ensure that true and accurate declarations are being made.
Calls are now being made by some parties to the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem to verify the declaration of assets and liabilities submitted by certain parties and officials so far.
FijiFirst General Secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said they can see that some party leaders have not submitted their full details.
The declarations by the Fiji Labour Party and Social Democratic Liberal Party were made in June last year.
According to SODELPA Leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa’s declaration, she has no source of funds and $1,000 cash in bank.
The declaration submitted in June last year also shows that Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry has total assets amounting to $3.8 million while his wife Hannah Virmati has $78,000.
The breakdown of the assets and the source of funds was not published.
Meanwhile SODELPA leader, Ro Teimumu Kepa claims that she has made all the declarations to the Registrar.
Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry said he has made his declaration and no one has come back to ask for any verification.
Chaudhry said the real issue is for the FijiFirst to disclose the source of the 636 thousand dollars worth of assets.
Chaudhry said they also want the declarations of the FijiFirst Leader and General Secretary to be investigated.
According to the Political Parties Decree, a political party should submit to the Registrar a written declaration
giving details of all assets and expenditure including, all contributions, donations or pledges of contributions or
donations, whether in cash or in kind, made or to be made to the initial assets of the political party.
The declaration submitted to the Registrar shall state the sources of all funds and other assets of the political party.
It is also stated that the party office holders should provide to the Registrar a statement containing the total assets whether in Fiji or abroad, the total income whether in Fiji or abroad, and the source of such income, received by each of them during the period to which the statement relates, any business connections, any directorships and liabilities.
The Registrar, Mohammed Saneem said people can write to him if they have any complaints in relation to the declarations.
He also said that the verification of the declarations submitted last year is still underway.
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