DRACULA GUARDING BLOOD BANK? Khaiyum says politicians and critics calling him to give up Election Minister post 'attention seekers'

10/5/2014

Fijileaks Editor: "It is not necessary that every State institution must have a minister responsible for elections. Several constitutions now have independent commissions with no minister over them. Fiji should adopt these--in the Yash Ghai Draft Constitution, which Khaiyum "torched" and replaced with his own, there are such commissions."

Attorney General and Minister for Elections Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum stands by his earlier comments and describes those who have called for his resignation as attention seekers.

He maintains there are no differences in his responsibilities as was given to Laisenia Qarase for the 2001 and 2006 elections as well as Sitiveni Rabuka in the 1996 elections while they held the prime minister’s portfolio while they held leadership roles in their respective political parties then.

Qarase and Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry had reacted strongly to the appointment of Sayed-Khaiyum as secretary of the proposed FijiFirst party, calling on him to step down as Minister for Elections citing conflict of interest. “It’s the same thing,” Sayed-Khaiyum. “Ministerial assignments, elections office, electoral commissioners were given to Laisenia Qarase, the same thing has been given to me. Just because we highlighted the minister responsible for elections, does not in any way change the fact that he was responsible for elections. “It is in the same way if any government wants to highlight a particular aspect of the position.

“Like I said most comments made by these people is not worth responding. I think they are just trying to get attention. The law is quite clear.” When asked about his degree of involvement in the electoral process, he maintains the Electoral Commission and the Fijian Elections Office including the Supervisor of Elections are independent. “The law is quite clear. The Electoral Commission is independent, the Supervisor of Elections and is independent. It’s in the Electoral Decree. It is very clear. It is very simple. Source: Fijilive.

Fijileaks: Read Deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's statement here; FLP statement here

14 Comments

rajend naidu link

10/5/2014 04:51:03 am

Aiyaz is a lawyer by training. He should know one can't be the judge of one's own cause as Professor Morris Ginsberg points out in his book On Justice in Society. So what Aiyaz has to say about holding both these positions at the same time is irrelevant. It is what others say that is significant. And others who are clearly well qualified to comment say there is a clear cut conflict of interest and Aiyaz should resign as Election Minister. As secretary-general of the Fiji First Party his position as Election Minister has become untenable.

(First) Fiji First Party link

10/5/2014 12:56:34 pm

There is a (First) Fiji First Party and than there is a (Proposed) Fiji First Party. The Secretary General of (First) Fiji First Party is Beni Sami. The rest of your contentions Rajend (as always) is spot-on!

scoundrels in politics link

10/5/2014 05:03:15 am

This megalomaniac needs to turn himself in for psychiatric evaluation. Power has gone to his head and buggered it!!
He can no longer think straight. He needs help - from mental health professionals.

joejoe

10/5/2014 06:08:17 am

Please Minister for Elections you are the first person to give the government and the people of fiji the right adivce and being a lawyer with Master Degree you should know exactly what to do. If you cannot understand what conflict of interest means than you are not the right person or adviser to the government or the people of this country. This is as simple as one can put it. But you are trying to push the blame on others "seeking attention". (According to you) Qarase was charged for conflict of interest of some sort and he spent time in prison. Please read your own constitution which you wrote. We are now to believe that you are not a smart lawyer after all and this is what will put FB into a very compromising position come this election. Knowing FB he will eat you alive if not people of Fiji will.

Definitions (Again)

10/5/2014 12:46:50 pm

“”A conflict of interest will arise where you have an interest which may actually compromise or be reasonably perceived to compromise your ability to perform your role within the Scottish Parliamentary Service in an impartial and objective manner (i.e. where your interest provides you with an incentive and your role responsibilities provide you with the opportunity to grant an unfair advantage or disadvantage)…..

...It is recognized that actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest will inevitably occur and that these may arise across all levels of decision making and areas of work. The types of potential conflict of interests which are most relevant in the parliamentary context are generally of a personal, financial, political or other professional nature.””

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/abouttheparliament/31082.aspx

scoundrels in politics link

10/5/2014 01:14:17 pm

thank you for another good definition which provides further clarification on what conflict of interest means . the definition makes it clear Khaiyum does have a conflict of interest, any independent observer will confirm that. Khaiyum of course is not an independent observer. he is an interested party!!

Interested Party

10/5/2014 04:34:08 pm

NZ, Australia amongst other countries have become interested parties who can no longer see conflict of interest.

They support anything and everything that Aiyaz dishes out and Aussies even gave his P/R back to him.

All they really want is an election so they can save themselves some embarrasment enabling them to"save" Fiji from the Chinese insurgents placing billions in debt to future Fijians yet to be born.

Biggest problem is how do voters get convinced that the tax rebate they have today are offset by selling all profit making assets that their past tax payers have accumulated pain stakingly.

How can they be convinced that the farming grant they are getting to expand the farms are actually a hand out money from overseas for which Bainimarama is thought to be getting their support from.

BUT he is leaving behind budget shortfalls by $300m - 500m annually while incrasing pay packets that are unsustainable for basic entitlements to other amenities.

How can voters be told that getting free or cheap surgical benefit because others have volunteered to provide these to the poverty stricken Fijians. This is no consession to Bai and his team.

But they taking credit for good things others have helped achieve in which no public statements have been shown as their own ideas before it gets initiated.

How can voters be told that Frank's IG and FLP ministers in his corrupt IG together have costed Fiji to be about bankrupt but saved by FNPF funds in which the illegal Frank / Aiaz govt has changed the values so to create more funds to run their unsustainable handouts and developments.

Indeed Dracula is Guarding Blood Bank and Sucking every dollar from us all.

They know after adding $220,000 wages in the basket of their high powered political stooges, they are well protected for their "Conflict of Interest".

And we are running fast to legitimise their illegality by participating in the illegal constitution nad processes, then cry they are cheating us of democracy.

You should all put FIJI FIRST and jointly BOYCOTT taking part in elections if Khaiym does not resign, PERIOD!

Do not allow NZ / Aust / Commonwealth to legitimise the election or the electoral process or the constitution. Rather Frank/Aiyaz go through unopposed then cheat to win and get legitamised BY YOU ALL. IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO CHANGE DIRECTION.

scoundrels in the international community link

10/5/2014 05:33:05 pm

I couldn't agree more. You have a solid grasp of the situation confronting the people of Fiji. It is for the democratic opposition in Fiji to act on your suggestion NOW!

tualeita

10/5/2014 06:33:08 pm

You have good point there Interested Party.

Interested Party

11/5/2014 02:34:11 am

Thank you guys.

Problem is opposition will conveniently choose to say with our opposition coalition we will together get more votes.

So we will out vote Aiyaz's party. We need to be there so we can say we have forced the election on Frank/Aiyaz. Then we can go in and change things.

By then Sa Sucu Sa Lutu! They would have legitimised the constitution as well as electoral process and go and sit there filling their pockets. Just as they did after August 2001 Elections as one party even had mandated to defy constitution is they won which they did.

These are the people who supported breaching the constitutrion by supporting Ghai Submission.

They should now dump the elections... and claim due to AG being Secretary of FIJI FIRST, he had conflict of interest to draw up the 2013 Constitution which is now evidenced not to be genuine due to him registering the domain name Fiji First in 11/11/2009.

And decreed to protect his future crimes until the elections.

Also demand that decree to be amended for no safety measure for "Frank, Aiyaz, and Electoral Commissioners and Elections Supervisor" since he took office of FIJI FIRST. Only then Aiyaz can justify he can remain as elections minister.

Come on politicians - don't go soft on this. WE will not point fingers at Frank and Aiaz, but at YOU for legitimising a rogue process.

EQUAL SUFFRAGE - RADIO, TV & PRINT MEDIA

11/5/2014 12:02:18 pm

What about new temporary radio station and print media funded by Commonwealth?

Opposition must sign agreement to BOYCOTT elections UNLESS UN/AUST/NZ pay for:

1. Buy a seperate Radio Station time for political Parties or 1 hour daily slot each in mornings and evenings. 10 minute slot to each party to run off weekly issues/campaign summary provided by each party and for independents. Repeat runs for 3 alternative days and other 3 days expanded speeches provided by each party and independents.

2. 1 hour TV station equal time slots to ALL parties as well as Independents

3. Print Media - equal front page story and photos of each party leaders and independents. Equal share of space by each paries weekly stories.

This should run for 60 days from 1/July/2014 to 31/Aug/2014. Without a BOYCOTT THREAT nothing will happen for the opposition parties.

Minister of Conflicting Interests

11/5/2014 02:26:07 pm

Let us get used to it – it is a quotation we will hear often in the coming months.

“The law is quite clear. The Electoral Commission is independent, the Supervisor of Elections and is independent. It’s in the Electoral Decree. It is very clear. It is very simple.”

So speaks Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum (10th May 2014) – the Quasi AG & Minister of Elections and the Minister of ‘Just About Everything Else’ in Fiji- and as well as- the General Secretary of the (“Proposed” Fiji First Party).

It is not in the interests of our Minister of Plenty Portfolios to hear views which may be true but contrary to the Interests the Minister is presently and passionately pursuing –Self Enrichment!

"It is very Clear. It is very simple."

scoundrels in politics link

11/5/2014 03:33:41 pm

Minister of Conflicting Interests thank you for putting it so eloquently and so concisely.
It is a full summing up of the shallow
man - the Minister of Plenty Portolios with ONE purpose - Self Enrichment.
You too right!

rajend naidu link

11/5/2014 05:12:26 pm

I think all of us "attention seekers" who are calling on Aiyaz to resign as Election Minister overlook an important fact : Aiyaz is infallible. He is not capable of doing wrong or being wrong.
Right?

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DRACULA GUARDING BLOOD BANK? Khaiyum says politicians and critics calling him to give up Election Minister post 'attention seekers'

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