 Play by the rules, Biman It is absurd of Finance Minister Biman Prasad to say that ‘non-profit organisations’ (NGOs) that have been de-registered will be given a chance to re-register”. “For one there is no provision in the existing legislation for de-registered entities to re-register, said Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. “Secondly, it is only proper that organisations that persistently fail to submit their annual reports and audited accounts be struck off after due notice. “It is in the public interest that such entities not be allowed to operate by simply seeking re-registration,” Mr Chaudhry said. Recently there was considerable controversy in the case of the re-registration of the Global Girmit Institute (GGI) which was de-registered in February 2022 for its persistent failure to submit annual reports and audited accounts for 5 years. Surprisingly, its registration was reinstated within a day of application in February this year, almost at the very time it was handed $200,000 of Girmit Celebration funds to host an international conference. The Minister’s wife, and a close political associate of his are the key officials of this moribund GGI. |  Fiji Times' Anish Chand on behalf of HIS MASTER'S VOICE. |
Fiji Labour Party has challenged the manner in which the re-registration was handled.
It has called on the Attorney-General to investigate the matter.
One wonders whether Minister Prasad’s motive in suggesting re-registration of de-registered NGOs is to seek the regularisation of GGI’s re-registration.
There is also the case of the Fiji Institute of Applied Studies of which Biman Prasad was a director and Ganesh Chand chairman of Trustees which was also de-registered in March 2022 presumably for failure to submit audited accounts.
Minister Prasad’s statement was made when talking to NGOs in Lautoka during his budget consultation trip last week. He said government can use NGOs to deliver services to the people more effectively.
But we hope that the Minister is not going to re-register irresponsible de-registered entities that had failed over the years to be held accountable and trust them with public funds on the pretext of using their services (ie the GGI case) .
It is critical that government funds are deployed to organisations with proven accountability.
By virtue of his portfolio, the onus is on the Finance Minister to ensure accountability and transparency from all listed public entities including charitable and non-profit organisations. His actions must be above reproach.
It has called on the Attorney-General to investigate the matter.
One wonders whether Minister Prasad’s motive in suggesting re-registration of de-registered NGOs is to seek the regularisation of GGI’s re-registration.
There is also the case of the Fiji Institute of Applied Studies of which Biman Prasad was a director and Ganesh Chand chairman of Trustees which was also de-registered in March 2022 presumably for failure to submit audited accounts.
Minister Prasad’s statement was made when talking to NGOs in Lautoka during his budget consultation trip last week. He said government can use NGOs to deliver services to the people more effectively.
But we hope that the Minister is not going to re-register irresponsible de-registered entities that had failed over the years to be held accountable and trust them with public funds on the pretext of using their services (ie the GGI case) .
It is critical that government funds are deployed to organisations with proven accountability.
By virtue of his portfolio, the onus is on the Finance Minister to ensure accountability and transparency from all listed public entities including charitable and non-profit organisations. His actions must be above reproach.
BACK from OBLIVION as NFP MP and COALITION CABINET MINISTER
From Fijileaks Archive, 1 January 2015, PRASAD: 'Are you same, Agni?'
