The National Federation Party will continue to pursue legal action in relation to their recent suspension.
NFP’s suspension was officially lifted yesterday after the party complied with the Political Parties Decree.
However, the Party is challenging the Registrar of Political parties finding that NFP was in breach of the Political Parties Decree.
Court proceedings have already been filed by NFP lawyers challenging the suspension.
The proceedings were filed at the High Court Registry on Monday 15th February.
“We have instructed our lawyers to continue with this legal action. They are awaiting the release of the papers from the High Court and they will be served on the Supervisor of Elections after that. We have challenged the Supervisor’s finding that NFP was in breach of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Decree. We do not believe he interpreted the law correctly on the question of who may audit those accounts.
We have also challenged his decision to suspend NFP. We do not believe it was necessary for him to do that and we do not believe the law allowed him to do that. We have also challenged his notice that we were restricted from various political party activities during the period of suspension. We do not believe the law allows us to be restricted in that way. We believe it is important for these issues to be resolved by the courts. This is to ensure that everybody, including the Supervisor of Elections, understands how the Political Parties Decree should operate in a democracy. We are also taking legal advice on the decision by the Speaker to suspend the NFP’s MPs from Parliament and whether we should take action on that. ” said Dr Biman Prasad – Leader NFP
NFP was suspended after the Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem stated the auditors of the NFP accounts – APNR Partners were not certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.
The NFP audited accounts for the period 2013 – 2014 Saneem stated were not in compliance with section 26 of the Decree.
“We’re very sorry to our supporters that we were not in the last Parliament session. Its not of our doing, its based on an executive decision which we find rather odd that a member of the executive of government can now interfere with the will of the people that put 3 of us into parliament. That’s just not how democracy works in our system of governance” said Tupou Draunidalo – NFP President
The Party also assuring supporters that NFP is going strong
“The people of Vanua levu whom I represent were very concerned about what was happening they were very anxious about everything that was happening but we want to tell the people of Vanua Levu and the people of Fiji that no matter what happens truth and justice will prevail. I am very glad that the party is back in action despite some means that were used which were not right but I just want to say that as a party NFP is going strong” said Parmod Chand – Vice President NFP
NFP was suspended for 30 days to allow compliance.
Just after 18 days the suspension was lifted after the Party complied with the Decree.