Crisis within FijiFirst that led to its deregistration

The FijiFirst Party has been de-registered by the Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa.

This is the end of the party that led government after the 2014 and 2018 general elections following non-democratic rule after the 2006 coup to 2014.

Mataiciwa de-registered FijiFirst in accordance with section 12(4) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act.

This was prompted by a complaint lodged by former FijiFirst MP and now an independent, Mosese Bulitavu who alleged that FijiFirst had breached its own constitution by not allowing its Parliamentary Leader to participate in the Leadership Committee meetings.

In trying to refer Bulitavu to an internal party dispute resolution in the FijiFirst Constitution, Mataiciwa noted that FijiFirst did not have any such provision.

As a requirement of the Political Parties Act, the contents of a Party Constitution must comply with Schedule 2 of the Act.

On Thursday 30th May 2024, FijiFirst was notified to amend its constitution to include provisions required under Schedule 2 of the Act.

The party was given until 4pm on Friday 28th June 2024, to make the necessary amendments.

Mataiciwa says as the party has not complied with this requirement, FijiFirst has been de-registered effective immediately, in accordance with section 12(4) of the Act.

Following the de-registration, section 20(1) of the Act stipulates that no person shall summon a meeting of members or officers of the political party other than for the purposes of winding up the political party or for the purposes of challenging the deregistration of the political party; attend or make a person attend a meeting in the capacity of a member or officer of the political party; and publish a notice or advertisement relating to a meeting of the political party except for the purposes of a meeting to wind up the party.

Mataiciwa adds that pursuant to section 30(1) of the Act, any person aggrieved by the decision to de-register FijiFirst may appeal to the Electoral Commission within 14 days from the date of this decision.

If no appeal is lodged with the commission by the end of the 14-day appeal period, the Registrar will commence the winding-up process.

The Registrar of Political Parties has notified all 26 FijiFirst Members of Parliament and the Speaker of Parliament of this decision.

The Speaker had already indicated that should the FijiFirst Party not rectify the breaches with the result that the party is deregistered, he has asked that the FijiFirst MPs notify him promptly as to whether they will become an independent Member or whether they will join an existing party.

The official FijiFirst Party facebook page has been deactivated.

As we approach 4pm June 28th 2024, when the FijiFirst is highly likely to be deregistered for not following the requirements set out in the Political Parties Act to amend their constitution to have a grievance process, a proper democratic executive committee set up and a transparent and public AGM system, the party’s social media page has been taken down.

When we contacted some of the FijiFirst MPs, they said they never had access to the official party facebook page and it was only promoting Voreqe Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Those in parliament had set up the Parliamentary Opposition Chambers facebook page last year to let their voters know on what they were doing.

They have no idea who decided to deactivate the official page.

FijiFirst has no office bearers as all of them including Bainimarama, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya have resigned.

Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa maintains that the notice issued to the FijiFirst Party on 30th May 2024, giving the party until 4pm on 28th June 2024 to amend the constitution still stands.

Mataiciwa reiterates that under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act, she does not have any intervening powers to the filling of positions in a party or overall management of affairs but will only intervene if a party has breached the Act.

Mataiciwa confirms receiving resignation letters from some FijiFirst party members and office holders today.

She confirms that Voreqe Bainimarama has resigned as the founding member, Leader and Member of FijiFirst, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has resigned as Foundation Member and Member of the party, Ratu Joji Satakala has resigned as President and Member, Selai Adimaitoga as Vice President and Member, Ravindran Kumaran as Vice President and Member, Shailesh Kumar as Foundation Member and Member, and Faiyaz Koya as Acting General Secretary and Registered Officer of the party and Hem Chand as Acting Treasurer of the FijiFirst.

Mataiciwa says further questions relating to the party must be addressed to the FijiFirst who under the law have the liberty to function themselves according to their party constitution without interference from the Registrar.

We have contacted the Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu. He is yet to respond.

Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has today decided that the 17 FijiFirst Party MPs who voted for the change in salaries and benefits in parliament did not breach the constitution, as after the independent legal advice received, he has rejected the FijiFirst notification because it does not comply with the requirements of Section 63(3) of the Fiji Constitution. Ratu Naiqama says the FijiFirst notification was signed by Voreqe Bainimarama, purportedly as the Leader of the FijiFirst, and Faiyaz Koya, as the Acting General Secretary of the FijiFirst.

He says Section 5(1)(d) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, read together with Section 3(2) of the Electoral (Registration of Voters) Act 2012, disqualify a person serving a sentence of imprisonment of 12 months or longer from being an office holder in a registered political party.

The Speaker says consequently, Koya and Bainimarama were not lawfully permitted to hold Bainimarama, an incarcerated criminal, convicted and sentenced to a term of imprisonment of one year, out as Leader of the FijiFirst Party.

Ratu Naiqama says Section 63(3) of the Fiji Constitution required the FijiFirst notification to be signed by both the Leader and the Secretary of the party.

He says not only was it not signed by the Leader of the party, but the fact that both Bainimarama and Koya holding Bainimarama out to be the Leader appears to involve an aspect of criminality.

Ratu Naiqama says it is an offence under Section 27 of the Political Parties Act to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement.

He says he has referred this matter to the Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa, to take appropriate action, with the possibility of charges following should there be sufficient evidence to warrant such a course of action.

He adds that he is also aware that Mataiciwa has issued a notice to the FijiFirst Party requesting that certain breaches of the Political Parties Act be rectified.

Ratu Naiqama makes it clear that should the FijiFirst Party not rectify the breaches with the result that the party is deregistered, he has asked that the FijiFirst MPs notify him promptly as to whether they will become an independent Member or whether they will join an existing party.

He says he has had to seek independent legal advice, and to ensure that both the process he has followed, and his decision have been fair, independent, and impartial.

We are currently in the process of getting the Registrar of Parties.

One of the 17 FijiFirst MPs, Jone Usamate says he will continue to perform his role as a Parliamentarian, to the best of his abilities, and in keeping with FijiFirst values of integrity, meritocracy, diversity and self reliance as a nation.

fijivillage News is also trying to get Koya.

The FijiFirst Party is highly likely to be deregistered after June 28th this year as the 26 party MPs will not make any attempts to keep the party alive that won the 2014 and 2018 general elections.

It is clear that after all the office bearers including Voreqe Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum resigned from the party yesterday, anyone who even tries to keep the party going will inherit a significant amount of unpaid debts.

According to the party’s audited financial accounts as at 31st December 2023 assessed by fijivillage News, the FijiFirst had a net liability position of $701,180 and a working capital deficiency of $855,938.

The financial report stated the party was also negotiating with certain suppliers for further time for settlement of overdue balances, and the party was confident that extended time at normal commercial terms will be allowed by the suppliers.

The auditors said based on these assumptions together with the support from the party workers and party supporters, the Central Executive Committee and management had concluded that the going concern basis of accounting remained appropriate for the preparation of these financial accounts.

Their operating expenses as at 31st December 2022 was $4.222 million compared to $380,057 in 2023.

The party’s net deficit is $701,680 as at the end of 2023 compared to a net deficit of $1.02 million in 2022. According to the financial position of the FijiFirst, the current liabilities listed as Trade and Other Payables stand at $907,664 at the end of last year and the total liabilities is $910,422. The total party funds deficit is $701,680 as at the end of 2023.

The recorded net surplus amounted to $323,864 for the year ended 31st December 2023 compared to a net deficit of $1.656 million in 2022.

Cash on hand and at bank balance as at 31st December 2023 was $22,583, and net liabilities was $701,180 compared to the net assets of $1.025 million in 2022.

The audit states the Central Executive Committee and management are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

It says in preparing the financial statements, the Central Executive Committee and management were responsible for assessing the party's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting.

The Central Executive Committee and management were responsible for overseeing the party's financial reporting process.

The Central Executive Committee was made up of former Leader Voreqe Bainimarama, former President Ratu Joji Satakala, former Acting General Secretary Faiyaz Koya and former Treasurer Hem Chand. They all resigned yesterday. Koya and Chand have resigned from the positions but not from the party.

Registrar of Parties, Ana Mataiciwa has confirmed to fijivillage News that if a party is deregistered, the MPs remain in parliament as independents and do not lose their seats.

Interesting times lie ahead as part of the 18 FijiFirst parliamentarians led by Opposition Leader, Inia Seruiratu met this afternoon to decide on their next step after the resignation of all the FijiFirst party office bearers yesterday.

Former foundation member, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says it is now up to the Registrar of Political Parties and the MPs on what they will do as they have resigned.

FijiFirst MPs, Faiyaz Koya, Premila Kumar, Parveen Bala, Hem Chand, Ketan Lal, Rinesh Sharma, Viam Pillay and Joseph Nand are not part of the 18.

FijiFirst MP, Mosese Bulitavu who is part of the 18 MPs to meet today, says party MP, Faiyaz Koya should resign as an MP given he was the messenger of the unlawful directive to the FijiFirst Caucus.

Bulitavu says Koya also ridiculed the Speaker publicly by allowing the confidential correspondence by the Speaker to be posted on the FijiFirst Facebook page together with his reply to the Speaker's letter.

He says when former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama attended court, Koya was the one who took the invalid termination letter to be signed and he should be responsible for implicating him more.

Bulitavu says Koya co-signed the letter to notify the Speaker on the vacation of the parliamentary seats of the 17 MPs.

Bulitavu adds Koya will be responsible for the demise of FijiFirst as being the party’s registered officer who couldn't rectify the breaches the Registrar of Political Parties had given notice on.

We have been trying to get comments from Koya. He has not been making any comments.

Seruiratu was not in the meeting as he is away overseas.

FijiFirst MP, Jone Usamate just said that they are waiting for the process and will not make further comments.

Although the FijiFirst Party no longer has any office bearers, Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa reiterates that under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act, she does not have any intervening powers to the filling of positions in a party or overall management of affairs.

Mataiciwa says she will only intervene if a party has breached the Act.

She maintains that the notice issued to the FijiFirst Party on 30th May 2024, giving the party until 4pm on 28th June 2024 to amend their constitution, still stands.

Mataiciwa confirms receiving resignation letters from some FijiFirst party members and office holders yesterday.

She confirms that Voreqe Bainimarama has resigned as the founding member, Leader and Member of FijiFirst, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has resigned as Foundation Member and Member of the party, Ratu Joji Satakala has resigned as President and Member, Selai Adimaitoga has finished off as Vice President and Member, Ravindran Kumaran as Vice President and Member, Shailesh Kumar as Foundation Member and Member, Faiyaz Koya as Acting General Secretary and Registered Officer of the party and Hem Chand as Acting Treasurer of the FijiFirst.

Mataiciwa says further questions relating to the party must be addressed to the FijiFirst who under the law have the liberty to function themselves according to their party constitution without interference from the Registrar. We have contacted the Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu. He is yet to respond.

FijiFirst founding member and leader Voreqe Bainimarama, founding members Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Salesh Kumar, party President Ratu Joji Satalaka, Vice President Selai Adimaitoga, Acting General Secretary Faiyaz Koya and Treasurer Hem Chand have resigned from their positions.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the other Vice President Ravindran Nair has also resigned.

He says the resignation letters were given to the Registrar of Political Parties on Friday.

Sayed-Khaiyum says what happens to the party now is the decision of the Registrar of Political Parties.

Those who have resigned from the FijiFirst Party are Bainimarama, Sayed-Khaiyum, Kumar, Satakala and Adimaitoga.

He says Koya and Chand will remain Members of Parliament.

While explaining the decision, Sayed-Khaiyum says the Leader and the Acting General Secretary, sent a letter to the Speaker informing him about the directives that were issued by the party that were not followed by the 17 MPs and on the same evening, the Supervisor of Elections started sending out messages or letters to the FijiFirst General Secretary about the deregistration of the party.

He says FICAC kicked into action where the FijiFirst party’s office, Koya’s house, his house and office law firm’s office were searched last week.

Sayed-Khaiyum says Bainimarama was questioned as to how or when he signed a letter in prison.

He says they believe the 17 that supported the pay rise will carry on supporting those type of policies and those who have resigned cannot be a part of that.

While addressing the 17 MPs, he says it is quite sad that having aligned themselves with a leader like Bainimarama and FijiFirst, they did not specifically adhere to the values and principles that have been laid out in the FijiFirst Constitution.

We have sent questions to Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa. She is yet to respond.

Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has written to the 17 FijiFirst MPs advising that Ratu Naiqama has decided to seek legal advice after he received a letter from the FijiFirst last week that the 17 should vacate their MP seats for not following the party directive to vote against the motion relating to salaries and benefits.

FijiFirst MP, Jone Usamate says Ratu Naiqama has said that whilst his office is awaiting the legal advice, the 17 members will continue with their Parliamentary duties.

Some within the FijiFirst are also suggesting that the party President, Ratu Joji Satakala had resigned earlier this week, however when contacted by fijivillage News, he said these are maybe just rumours and he did not want to make any further comments.

Questions are being raised on the legality of the party directive given to the MPs.

Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa has referred the matter to FICAC where former FijiFirst General Secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had maintained that Voreqe Bainimarama remains the leader of the FijiFirst.

Mataiciwa has said that Bainimarama was convicted for the offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice contravening Section 190(e) of the Crimes Act 2009 and sentenced to a term of 1 year imprisonment.

She says she understands that this conviction has been appealed but Section 5(3) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act states that a person is disqualified from being an office holder of a political party that is registered under this Act if that person has, in the 5 years preceding the date when he or she applies to become an office holder of the political party been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of not less than 6 months.

An office holder refers to someone that is either elected or appointed by the members of the political party to hold office in that political party.

Mataiciwa says at the moment, Bainimarama continues his appointment as Party Leader despite not meeting the requirements of Section 5(3) of the Act.

She says the endorsement of the appointment of Bainimarama as Party Leader may be an offence relating to the Act.

She says pursuant to Section 18 of the Electoral Act 2014, she has referred this matter to the FICAC for their further action.

FICAC is yet to make a decision on the legality of Bainimarama still holding the party leader position.

Sayed-Khaiyum had earlier said that under Section 2 of the Political Parties Act, an office holder means someone who is elected or appointed by the members of a political party, and includes the president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary and registered officer of a party. He says party leader is clearly not included in this definition.

He had also said that the FijiFirst Constitution is not similar to the constitutions of other political parties.

He says it provides for provisions on the specific mechanisms for the appointment of its office holders, in line with the interpretation for the term office holder under the Political Parties Act, and which provisions also do not include the position of the Leader.

FijiFirst MP, Mosese Bulitavu says all issues need to be addressed and these include the matter in relation to the party leader position, the appointment of Faiyaz Koya as Acting General Secretary, no dispute process in the party constitution to deal with the 17 MPs’ grievances and the Opposition Leader, Inia Seruiratu not included in the Leadership Committee of the party although that is a requirement of the party constitution.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Faiyaz Koya are still not answering the questions sent to them.

FijiFirst Party MP, Mosese Bulitavu is alleging that former party General Secretary, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is using the Party President, Ratu Joji Satakala to issue a statement under Satakala’s name.

Following Satakala’s statement issued on the FijiFirst facebook page that the 17 FijiFirst MPs’ seats have been vacated for not following the party’s directive on the pay rise vote, Bulitavu says Fiji knows who wrote the statement for the poor Party President to rubber stamp.

He says he does not know whether the Party President understands the statement that has been put out under his name while the drafters hide behind him.

Bulitavu stresses that the FijiFirst Party President and those who wrote the statement for him need to understand the precedent set by the former Speaker, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau on 13th August 2021.

He says the SODELPA Leader and General Secretary wrote to the Speaker to vacate his seat however the former Speaker wrote back to them that Bulitavu disputed the directive that was issued by the party.

Bulitavu says the Speaker then told SODELPA if they want to vacate his seat, they are free to go to the court.

Bulitavu adds that the FijiFirst Party does not have the power to vacate their Parliamentary seat as the Party President puts it in prepared statement 'they no longer hold seats as Parliamentarians.'

He adds that the Party President in the same statement contradicts himself saying 'while we have not heard from the Speaker as to when the 17 replacement members will be replaced..." which only proves that the power to vacate the Parliamentary seats vests in the ruling of the Speaker.

Bulitavu says to also correct the Party President, the Electoral Commission will only award the seats to the replacing candidates once they are notified by the Speaker.

He says the whole of Fiji and those abroad are fully aware of the situation that FijiFirst has been put on notice on it's Constitutional breaches.

Bulitavu says the 17 MPs say that the directive was unlawful, the FijiFirst Party Constitution does not have a dispute system and that the former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama is being used again despite his conviction that prevents him to hold any political party office to sign the letter of notification addressed to the Speaker.

He says in addition, the Supervisor of Elections/Registrar of Political Parties has said that Bainimarama’s name would be removed from the National Voter Register due to his conviction similar to Bulitavu’s vacation of seat in April 2018 when he was convicted by the court.

Bulitavu says the Speaker has the discretion to make a ruling and reply to both parties. He adds if the FijiFirst Party President comes around in Parliament this week, he will still see the 17 MPs at the Opposition Chambers busy engaged in their Parliamentary duties.

Bulitavu calls on Satakala to please stop being used by whoever wrote his statement because they are the very ones that put the former Prime Minister, Bainimarama into a lot of problems.

The FijiFirst MP says whoever wrote Satakala’s statement was even responsible for writing the former Prime Minister, Bainimarama's maiden speech last year that resulted in his suspension from Parliament.

We have sent numerous questions to former General Secretary of the FijiFirst, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya. They have not been responding to any questions.

FijiFirst MP, Alvick Maharaj has called FijiFirst Party officials to be at least brave enough to admit it's personal rather than hiding behind excuses to terminate him.

While speaking to fijivillage News, Maharaj says he and others stood by Voreqe Bainimarama and his principles but if Bainimarama himself has blind-folded himself and with this recent development, as he has signed the letter that was delivered to the Speaker, he questions the legality of the termination and shall wait for a response from the Speaker, before deciding on the next step.

Maharaj says he is questioning his termination as a MP, and unfortunately, he must resort to the media to do so as FijiFirst believes in communicating through social media and letters rather than talking to its Members of Parliament before terminating its members.

He says he was caught by surprise when he received the termination letter without having a simple communication from the Central Executive Committee that he was under any kind of investigation.

He asks whether the decision to terminate him is personal or professional.

Maharaj says to date the reason is not clear as to why he was removed as Opposition Whip last year.

He says this time around he has been served with a termination letter with the reason provided for not voting in Parliamentary motion regarding the change in salaries and benefits.

The FijiFirst MP says during the discussion in the caucus meeting, he had informed everyone that he had reservations against the Emoluments Committee report, and he won't vote and this discussion took place in presence of the Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya.

He says he objected to the report in parliament, and it was aired live that he had opted not to vote.

Maharaj asks how did the FijiFirst Central Executive Committee come up with the decision that since he did not vote, he should be terminated.

He says the Central Executive Committee deliberately opted to disregard his speech where he opposed the motion.

Maharaj says the day the motion was tabled he had informed his caucus that he would not sign the report, but members along those members who voted no as well as those who abstained including the General Secretary (Faiyaz Koya) pressured him to sign the emoluments report. He asks if the party had objection to anyone not going to vote then why it was not communicated by the Acting General Secretary once the discussion took place in the caucus meeting on Friday morning and before the motion was debated.

Maharaj says this also raises the question if the Acting General Secretary Koya even has any powers to make decisions or is just a mouthpiece of someone.

He asks whether the question was sent by Koya or it was sent to him and copied and pasted in their Viber group.

Maharaj says it seems like the party assumed if he would have voted, it would have been yes.

He says FijiFirst talks about unity, democracy, and dialogue and here they are getting terminated without having a single discussion between the concerned MP’s and party.

The FijiFirst MP says this raises serious concern if the Central Executive Committee or founding members of the party had a personal agenda against him and opted to terminate him using what transpired as an excuse.

He says he would also like to question why his letter is signed by the Acting General Secretary and not by the President of the party.

He adds if the new party president opted not to be the rubber stamp of the party then he would like to personally thank the new president for holding the moral ground.

The Speaker has not said anything regarding the FijiFirst terminating 17 of their MPs.

Faiyaz Koya and former General Secretary and party Foundation member, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum are not making any comments.

Stay with us for developments.

Questions are being raised on why attempts have been made to remove FijiFirst Party senior Member of Parliament, Alvick Maharaj from his parliamentary seat.

Maharaj did not vote for the parliamentary motion to change the salaries and benefits, and had raised concerns that some changes were discriminatory against youth parliamentarians.

fijivillage News is also trying to get comments from Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya and the party’s Foundation Member, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on whether this is a personal vendetta against Maharaj as he has been raising issues regarding some questionable matters in the party and was also replaced as Opposition Whip last year.

We have also asked for a response from Koya and Sayed-Khaiyum on FijiFirst MP Mosese Bulitavu's comments saying that FijiFirst does not have an internal dispute resolution in it's Constitution.

Bulitavu also asks how can termination letters be issued if MPs were not even asked to respond to the allegation against them.

fijivillage News has also managed to get the instructions given to the MPs by Koya last Friday.

It says FijiFirst Leader, Voreqe Bainimarama who was visited by his lawyers at Korovou Prison informed them about his decisions on specific policy matters.

The instruction said vote against the pay rise or at the very least abstain.

The message from Bainimarama said in short voting for it will make FijiFirst caucus members look greedy given that that ordinary Fijians who are their main supporters will lose confidnece in them as the cost of living has sky rocketed and social wages has decreased significantly and is a major public issue and is the achilles heel for the coalition government.

The message said a pay rise is not appropriate at this time, and apart from the philosophical issue, from a political perspective, if NFP or any other party abstains or votes against the Bill what will FijiFirst look like if they vote for it.

He said you can already see on social media that an overwhelming majority of Fijians even the PAP, NFP and SODELPA supporters are against the motion.

The second instruction dealt with no giving of speeches in the vernacular as Alvick Maharaj did.

Bainimarama's instruction said phrases here and there which can be translated or easily understood by all have always been acceptable by FijiFirst.

He said the philosophical rationale is that they are an inclusive political movement. not exclusive.

He adds by making speeches in the vernacular they are completely going against their core principles of inclusiveness.

We have sent questions to Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya and the party’s Foundation Member, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

We have asked if they have received the confirmation of the vacation of the 17 FijiFirst MPs seats by the Speaker.

fijivillage News has also asked Koya and Sayed-Khaiyum for their comments after FijiFirst MP, Mosese Bulitavu said FijiFirst doesn't have an internal dispute resolution in it's Constitution.

He also asks how can termination letters be issued if MPs were not even asked to respond to the allegation against them.

We have also asked if this is a personal vendetta against Maharaj as he has been raising issues regarding some questionable matters in the party and was also replaced as Opposition Whip last year.

Bulitavu has also said that Section 5.3 (c)(ii) of the FijiFirst Party Constitution stipulates that "if FijiFirst is in the main opposition party in Parliament, the Parliamentary Leader shall be the Leader of the Opposition."

In addition, section 5.3 (b)(iii) of the FijiFirst Constitution says that the Parliamentary Leader is the head of the Leadership Committee and in section 5.3 (b)(iv) the Leadership Committee determines the composition of the Central Executive Committee which includes the President, Vice Presidents, the General Secretary and the Treasurer. Any member of the Leadership Committee is a Foundation member.

Bulitavu is asking why is the Leader of the Opposition/Parliamentary Leader of FijiFirst since taking office on 27 March, 2023 been kept out of the Leadership Committee and not appointed as a Foundation member.

He also asks why didn't the Leader of the Opposition being the rightful Parliamentary Leader who the FijiFirst Constitution says should be the head of the Leadership Committee take part in the selection of the new Party President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer and the appointment of the acting General Secretary.

He says only a Leadership Committee meeting chaired by the Parliamentary Leader can issue a lawful party directive to MP's.

He asked are FijiFirst not breaching their very own Party Constitution.

We have asked who are the 17 new MPs earmarked to come in, who have confirmed to the party that they are ready to serve and what is their message to the 17 terminated MPs who say they do not accept the decision and are questioning the legality of it.

Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu is yet to confirm that the 17 FijiFirst seats are vacant and the Electoral Commission is yet to award the seats to the next 17 FijiFirst candidates on the list from the 2022 general elections.

FijiFirst Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya and the party’s Foundation Member, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum have not responded to our questions despite many attempts by us to get them to clarify issues to the people of Fiji on what the FijiFirst is doing.

The 17 FijiFirst Members of Parliament say they are disputing the legality of the termination letter issued to them yesterday.

The MPs include Inia Seruiratu, Mosese Bulitavu, Sanjay Kirpal, Semi Koroilavesau, Shalen Kumar, Virendra Lal, loane Naivalurua, Sachida Nand, Vijay Nath, Viliame Naupoto, Ratu Josaia Niudamu, Penioni Ravunawa, Taito Rokomatu, Alipate Tuicolo, Naisa Tuinaceva, Jone Usamate and Alvick Maharaj.

16 MPs voted for the change in salaries and benefits in parliament on Friday while Maharaj did not vote although he was in parliament.

FijiFirst MP, Jone Usamate says as far as they are concerned, they are still Members of Parliament.

He says they have received letters from Faiyaz Koya notifying them that their seat in parliament has been vacated.

Usamate says they will await the full process of the law to take its course.

The 16 FijiFirst Members of Parliament met with Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, seeking clarification on the processes of Parliament on Wednesday.

Usamate says this followed the statement posted on the FijiFirst Party Facebook page that the party will take action against the FijiFirst Members of Parliament who have been alleged to have voted against the party directive.

Usamate says the Speaker has stated that all the due processes of Parliament will be followed, should such a notification be received by his office.

The 16 FijiFirst MPs were not told to give any explanations and they were only made aware of the FijiFirst Party President Ratu Joji Satakala’s comments on the party’s official facebook page where he said on Sunday that the party will take action against the 16, including Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu, who went against the party directive.

The Central Executive Committee is made up of the party President Ratu Joji Satakala, Vice President Selai Adimaitoga, Acting General Secretary Faiyaz Koya, Treasurer Hem Chand, party leader and founder Voreqe Bainimarama, former General Secretary and founder Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and founder Salesh Kumar.

According to Section 63 of the Fijian Constitution, the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member votes or abstains from voting in Parliament contrary to any direction issued by the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament, without obtaining the prior permission of the political party; or if the Member of Parliament is expelled from the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament and the expulsion was in accordance with the rules of the political party relating to party discipline.

The 17 FijiFirst Members of Parliament say they are disputing the legality of the termination letter issued to them earlier today.

The MPs include Inia Seruiratu, Mosese Bulitavu, Sanjay Kirpal, Semi Koroilavesau, Shalen Kumar, Virendra Lal, loane Naivalurua, Sachida Nand, Vijay Nath, Viliame Naupoto, Ratu Josaia Niudamu, Penioni Ravunawa, Taito Rokomatu, Alipate Tuicolo, Naisa Tuinaceva, Jone Usamate and Alvick Maharaj.

16 MPs voted for the change in salaries and benefits in parliament on Friday while Maharaj did not vote although he was in parliament.

FijiFirst MP, Jone Usamate says as far as they are concerned, they are still Members of Parliament.

He says they have received letters from the Acting General Secretary of the party, Faiyaz Koya notifying them that their seat in parliament has been vacated.

Usamate says they will await the full process of the law to take its course.

Koya has not been answering our calls despite many attempts by us to get him to clarify issues to the people of Fiji on what the Fiji First is doing.

The 16 FijiFirst Members of Parliament met with Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, with the Secretary General of Parliament in attendance, seeking clarification on the processes of Parliament yesterday.

Usamate says this follows the statement posted on the FijiFirst Party Facebook page that the party will take action against the FijiFirst Members of Parliament who have been alleged to have voted against the party directive.

Usamate says the Speaker has stated that all the due processes of Parliament will be followed, should such a notification be received by his office.

The 16 FijiFirst MPs were not told to give any explanations and they were only made aware of the FijiFirst Party President Ratu Joji Satakala’s comments on the party’s official facebook page where he said on Sunday that the party will take action against the 16, including Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu, who went against the party directive.

Ratu Joji said all FijiFirst supporters and Fijian citizens are informed that all FijiFirst Members of Parliament were directed specifically by the Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya in a caucus meeting on Friday morning and in writing after lunch on the same day to vote against or abstain from voting on the salary and benefit increase.

The Central Executive Committee is made up of the party President Ratu Joji Satakala, Vice President Selai Adimaitoga, Acting General Secretary Faiyaz Koya, Treasurer Hem Chand, party leader and founder Voreqe Bainimarama, former General Secretary and founder Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and founder Salesh Kumar.

According to Section 63 of the Fijian Constitution, the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member votes or abstains from voting in Parliament contrary to any direction issued by the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament, without obtaining the prior permission of the political party; or if the Member of Parliament is expelled from the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament and the expulsion was in accordance with the rules of the political party relating to party discipline.

The representatives of the 16 FijiFirst Members of Parliament have met with Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, with the Secretary General of Parliament in attendance, seeking clarification on the processes of Parliament.

FijiFirst MP, Jone Usamate says this follows the statement posted on the FijiFirst Party Facebook page that the party will take action against the FijiFirst Members of Parliament who have been alleged to have voted against the party directive.

Usamate says the Speaker has stated that all the due processes of Parliament will be followed, should such a notification be received by his office.

The 16 FijiFirst MPs have not been told to give any explanations and they have been only made aware of the FijiFirst Party President Ratu Joji Satakala’s comments on the party’s official facebook page where he said on Sunday that the party will be taking action against the 16, including Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu, who went against the party directive.

He says these members were Mosese Bulitavu, Sanjay Kirpal, Semi Koroilavesau, Shalen Kumar, Virendra Lal, loane Naivalurua, Sachida Nand, Vijay Nath, Viliame Naupoto, Ratu Josaia Niudamu, Penioni Ravunawa, Taito Rokomatu, Inia Seruiratu, Alipate Tuicolo, Naisa Tuinaceva and Jone Usamate.

Ratu Joji said all FijiFirst supporters and Fijian citizens are informed that all FijiFirst Members of Parliament were directed specifically by the Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya in a caucus meeting on Friday morning and in writing after lunch on the same day to vote against or abstain from voting on the salary and benefit increase.

He says the Central Executive Committee of FijiFirst will now take steps as provided for in the FijiFirst Constitution to address this issue.

The Central Executive Committee is made up of the party President Ratu Joji Satakala, Vice President Selai Adimaitoga, Acting General Secretary Faiyaz Koya, Treasurer Hem Chand, party leader and founder Voreqe Bainimarama, former General Secretary and founder Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and founder Salesh Kumar.

According to Section 63 of the Fijian Constitution, the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member votes or abstains from voting in Parliament contrary to any direction issued by the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament, without obtaining the prior permission of the political party; or if the Member of Parliament is expelled from the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament and the expulsion was in accordance with the rules of the political party relating to party discipline.

Koya and Sayed-Khaiyum have not been answering their phones.

FijiFirst MP, Mosese Bulitavu is now asking whether the party is breaching it’s very own party constitution and why is the Leader of the Opposition and Parliamentary Leader of FijiFirst, Inia Seruiratu since taking office on 27th March, 2023, been kept out of the FijiFirst Leadership Committee and not appointed as a Foundation member.

The Central Executive Committee is made up of the party President Ratu Joji Satakala, Vice President Selai Adimaitoga, Acting General Secretary Faiyaz Koya, Treasurer Hem Chand, party leader and founder Voreqe Bainimarama, former General Secretary and founder Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and founder Salesh Kumar.

In an official post on his facebook page, Bulitavu is asking why didn't the Leader of the Opposition, Seruiratu being the rightful Parliamentary Leader who the FijiFirst Constitution says should be the head of the Leadership Committee, take part in the selection of the new Party President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer and the appointment of the acting General Secretary.

Bulitavu says only a FijiFirst Leadership Committee meeting chaired by the Parliamentary Leader can issue a lawful party directive to MPs.

He says Section 5.3 (c)(ii) of the FijiFirst Party Constitution stipulates that "if FijiFirst is in the main opposition party in Parliament, the Parliamentary Leader shall be the Leader of the Opposition."

Bulitavu says in addition, section 5.3 (b)(iii) of the FijiFirst Constitution says that the Parliamentary Leader is the head of the Leadership Committee and in section 5.3 (b)(iv) the Leadership Committee determines the composition of the Central Executive Committee which includes the President, Vice Presidents, the General Secretary and the Treasurer. Any member of the Leadership Committee is a Foundation member.

The 16 FijiFirst Party Members of Parliament who voted for salary and benefit increases for the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Whips, Leader of Opposition and Members of Parliament, are still awaiting the decision of the party’s Central Executive Committee.

fijivillage News has been told by some within the party that the Central Executive Committee was expected to meet in the west yesterday.

We have been told only Bainimarama will not be in the meeting as he is in prison.

The 16 FijiFirst MPs have not been told to give any explanations and they have been only made aware of the FijiFirst Party President Ratu Joji Satakala’s comments on the party’s official facebook page where he said on Sunday that the party will be taking action against the 16, including Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu, who went against the party directive.

He says these members were Mosese Bulitavu, Sanjay Kirpal, Semi Koroilavesau, Shalen Kumar, Virendra Lal, loane Naivalurua, Sachida Nand, Vijay Nath, Viliame Naupoto, Ratu Josaia Niudamu, Penioni Ravunawa, Taito Rokomatu, Inia Seruiratu, Alipate Tuicolo, Naisa Tuinaceva and Jone Usamate.

Ratu Joji said all FijiFirst supporters and Fijian citizens are informed that all FijiFirst Members of Parliament were directed specifically by the Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya in a caucus meeting on Friday morning and in writing after lunch on the same day to vote against or abstain from voting on the salary and benefit increase.

He says the Central Executive Committee of FijiFirst will now take steps as provided for in the FijiFirst Constitution to address this issue.

According to Section 63 of the Fijian Constitution, the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member votes or abstains from voting in Parliament contrary to any direction issued by the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament, without obtaining the prior permission of the political party; or if the Member of Parliament is expelled from the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament and the expulsion was in accordance with the rules of the political party relating to party discipline.

fijivillage News is also trying to get Koya and Sayed-Khaiyum.

The 16 FijiFirst Party Members of Parliament who voted for salary and benefit increases for the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Whips, Leader of Opposition and Members of Parliament, are still awaiting the decision of the party’s Central Executive Committee.

fijivillage News has been told by some within the party that the Central Executive Committee was expected to meet in the west today.

The Central Executive Committee is made up of the party President Ratu Joji Satakala, Vice President Selai Adimaitoga, Acting General Secretary Faiyaz Koya, Treasurer Hem Chand, party leader and founder Voreqe Bainimarama, former General Secretary and founder Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and founder Salesh Kumar.

We have been told only Bainimarama will not be in the meeting as he is in prison.

The 16 FijiFirst MPs have not been told to give any explanations and they have been only made aware of the FijiFirst Party President Ratu Joji Satakala’s comments on the party’s official facebook page where he said on Sunday that the party will be taking action against the 16, including Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu, who went against the party directive.

He says these members were Mosese Bulitavu, Sanjay Kirpal, Semi Koroilavesau, Shalen Kumar, Virendra Lal, loane Naivalurua, Sachida Nand, Vijay Nath, Viliame Naupoto, Ratu Josaia Niudamu, Penioni Ravunawa, Taito Rokomatu, Inia Seruiratu, Alipate Tuicolo, Naisa Tuinaceva and Jone Usamate.

Ratu Joji said all FijiFirst supporters and Fijian citizens are informed that all FijiFirst Members of Parliament were directed specifically by the Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya in a caucus meeting on Friday morning and in writing after lunch on the same day to vote against or abstain from voting on the salary and benefit increase.

He says the Central Executive Committee of FijiFirst will now take steps as provided for in the FijiFirst Constitution to address this issue.

According to Section 63 of the Fijian Constitution, the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member votes or abstains from voting in Parliament contrary to any direction issued by the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament, without obtaining the prior permission of the political party; or if the Member of Parliament is expelled from the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament and the expulsion was in accordance with the rules of the political party relating to party discipline.

According to the Parliamentary Employments Committee report tabled in parliament, FijiFirst had proposed an increase in salary of the Leader of Opposition from $120,000 to $200,000, salary of a Member of Parliament to be increased from $50,000 to $100,000, all Ministers to get $200,000, Assistant Ministers’ pay to be increased from $90,000 to $120,000 and Speaker’s salary to be increased from $150,000 to $200,000.

FijiFirst also wanted the President’s non taxable salary to be maintained at $130,000 and the Prime Minister’s salary to be maintained at $328,750.

The proposal is quite similar to the final recommendations presented in the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee report which proposes increases in salaries for the President, Speaker of Parliament, Government Ministers and Members of Parliament. The FijiFirst proposal says comparing Parliamentary Salary and Civil Servants shows a grim picture.

It says to put simply, MPs are paid the equivalent of an Army Captain over 2 years, a Superintendent of Police, a Head Teacher of a big Primary school, or a Principal of a small Secondary school.

The FijiFirst says MPs salary are not even close to Magistrates starting salary.

The opposition party says this is not to say that these posts do not deserve these salaries but when they make the comparison with MPs salaries and peg it against the critical components, the salary for MPs are quite ludicrous to say the least.

They say the irony is that candidates who did not make it to Parliament are given jobs that pay more than all of them in Parliament.

The FijiFirst also proposed that a Health and Medical Allowance must be provided at an appropriate level at to all Members of Parliament.

They also say Members of Parliament must be accorded the full status of their position.

As such when they propose that when MPs do travel, they must be accorded Business Class travel and be afforded Diplomatic Privileges.

The FijiFirst says this is in keeping with both the importance of the work they undertake as lawmakers, and their being the physical embodiment of the democratic choice of Fiji citizens.

The recommended that all Parliamentarians below the Prime Minister are to travel Business Class and be issued Diplomatic Passports.

They also proposed that all MPs be paid a Sitting Allowance of $500 per day irrespective of where they live.

The FijiFirst says this allowance will cover travel to and from Parliament, board and subsistence.

They also recommend sitting allowances for all MPs to be increased inclusive of accommodation allowance and the removal of the restrictions on the 30 kilometres.

Koya and Sayed-Khaiyum are not answering any calls for now.

Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu has today said the statement of the FijiFirst Party President, Ratu Joji Satakala regarding the salary and benefits vote is a party internal process and for now does not affect the work of Opposition MPs.

Seruiratu says there has been a lot of publicity on the recent statement of the President of the FijiFirst and intention of instigating disciplinary action on FijiFirst Members of Parliament who voted for the Motion on the Emolument Review Report last Friday.

The FijiFirst Party President has said on the official facebook page that they will be taking action against 16 MPs, including Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu, who went against the party directive and voted for salary and benefit increases for the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Deputy Speaker, Whips, Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Members of Parliament.

He says these members were Mosese Bulitavu, Sanjay Kirpal, Semi Koroilavesau, Shalen Kumar, Virendra Lal, loane Naivalurua, Sachida Nand, Vijay Nath, Viliame Naupoto, Ratu Josaia Niudamu, Penioni Ravunawa, Taito Rokomatu, Inia Seruiratu, Alipate Tuicolo, Naisa Tuinaceva and Jone Usamate.

Ratu Joji, in a post on the party's Facebook page says all FijiFirst supporters and Fijian citizens are informed that all FijiFirst Members of Parliament were directed specifically by the Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya in a caucus meeting on Friday morning and in writing after lunch on the same day to vote against or abstain from voting on the salary and benefit increase.

This morning, Seruiratu has released a statement saying that the Opposition MPs are currently working very hard in the six Parliamentary Standing Committees that they are members of to scrutinize the reports assigned to them from Parliament. Seruiratu says in addition, four very important Bills were brought to Parliament in the last sitting that are required to go through the Committee process and to be tabled back to Parliament in the August sitting. The Leader of the Opposition says these are important Bills that need to be thoroughly vetted by the Committee and to be enacted by Parliament at the earliest opportunity.

Seruiratu says the Opposition MPs are continuing and working hard on their Committee roles and he would like to assure the people of Fiji that they will continue to diligently do their work as mandated to them through Parliament.

According to Section 63 of the Fijian Constitution, the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the member votes or abstains from voting in Parliament contrary to any direction issued by the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament, without obtaining the prior permission of the political party; or if the Member of Parliament is expelled from the political party for which he or she was a candidate at the time he or she was elected to Parliament and the expulsion was in accordance with the rules of the political party relating to party discipline.

Stay with us for developments.

FijiFirst Party President Ratu Joji Satakala says the party will be taking action against 16 MPs, including Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu, who went against the party directive and voted for salary and benefit increases for the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Deputy Speaker, Whips, Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Members of Parliament.

He says these members were Mosese Bulitavu, Sanjay Kirpal, Semi Koroilavesau, Shalen Kumar, Virendra Lal, loane Naivalurua, Sachida Nand, Vijay Nath, Viliame Naupoto, Ratu Josaia Niudamu, Penioni Ravunawa, Taito Rokomatu, Inia Seruiratu, Alipate Tuicolo, Naisa Tuinaceva and Jone Usamate.

Ratu Joji, in a post on the party's Facebook page says all FijiFirst supporters and Fijian citizens are informed that all FijiFirst Members of Parliament were directed specifically by the Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya in a caucus meeting on Friday morning and in writing after lunch on the same day to vote against or abstain from voting on the salary and benefit increase.

He says the Central Executive Committee of FijiFirst will now take steps as provided for in the FijiFirst Constitution to address this issue.

According to the Parliamentary Employments Committee report tabled in parliament, FijiFirst had proposed an increase in salary of the Leader of Opposition from $120,000 to $200,000, salary of a Member of Parliament to be increased from $50,000 to $100,000, all Ministers to get $200,000, Assistant Ministers’ pay to be increased from $90,000 to $120,000 and Speaker’s salary to be increased from $150,000 to $200,000. FijiFirst also wanted the President’s non taxable salary to be maintained at $130,000 and the Prime Minister’s salary to be maintained at $328,750.

The proposal is quite similar to the final recommendations presented in the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee report which proposes increases in salaries for the President, Speaker of Parliament, Government Ministers and Members of Parliament. The FijiFirst proposal says comparing Parliamentary Salary and Civil Servants shows a grim picture.

It says to put simply, MPs are paid the equivalent of an Army Captain over 2 years, a Superintendent of Police, a Head Teacher of a big Primary school, or a Principal of a small Secondary school.

The FijiFirst says MPs salary are not even close to Magistrates starting salary.

The opposition party says this is not to say that these posts do not deserve these salaries but when they make the comparison with MPs salaries and peg it against the critical components, the salary for MPs are quite ludicrous to say the least.

They say the irony is that candidates who did not make it to Parliament are given jobs that pay more than all of them in Parliament.

The FijiFirst also proposed that a Health and Medical Allowance must be provided at an appropriate level at to all Members of Parliament.

They also say Members of Parliament must be accorded the full status of their position.

As such when they propose that when MPs do travel, they must be accorded Business Class travel and be afforded Diplomatic Privileges.

The FijiFirst says this is in keeping with both the importance of the work they undertake as lawmakers, and their being the physical embodiment of the democratic choice of Fiji citizens.

The recommended that all Parliamentarians below the Prime Minister are to travel Business Class and be issued Diplomatic Passports.

They also proposed that all MPs be paid a Sitting Allowance of $500 per day irrespective of where they live.

The FijiFirst says this allowance will cover travel to and from Parliament, board and subsistence.

They also recommend sitting allowances for all MPs to be increased inclusive of accommodation allowance and the removal of the restrictions on the 30 kilometres distance from Suva.