Khaiyum far right, told to resign by Chaudhry The Fiji Labour Party has called on Minister for Elections, the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to resign after his appointment as the general secretary of the proposed Fiji First party. Labour leader Mahendra Chaudhry said in a statement that Sayed-Khaiyum cannot continue to be the Minister for Elections after his appointment as it is a conflict of interest and abuse of office. “Failure to do so will tantamount to abuse of office. It is also a case of conflict of interest,” says Chaudhry. “FLP also questions the injustice of these public officers being allowed under the regime’s Constitution to contest elections or to hold official positions in political parties while it forbids trade union officials who are not public officials at all, from doing so.” Under Section 57 of the 2013 constitutions subsection 3 (g) the public office means “any office in any federation, congress, council or affiliation of trade unions (whether elected or appointed to that office and including any position or arrangement under which a person receives remuneration, salary, allowances or fees from any federation, congress, council or affiliation of Trade Unions. Section 57(4) states that public office does not include the office of the Prime Minister, the office of a Minister, the office of the Deputy Speaker, the office of the Leader of Opposition or the office held by the Minister by virtue of his or her appointment as a minister. “Such discriminatory treatment is totally abhorrent in any democratic society and I am surprised that the international community continues to support such unjust laws under the regime’s constitution. “Trade union officials are not paid by the public purse nor are they performing any public duty. Why then are they barred from holding official positions in political parties or from contesting elections?” Chaudhry asked. FijiLive understands that trade unionists are classified public office holders by government because they operate through the subs that workers pay them in order to be a member of the union. The AG could not be reached for comments. Source: Fijilive
Chaudhry insists on staying at the helm of Fiji Labour Party as its leader despite conviction
I’m entitled to hold my post in FLP - Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry said he will continue to be the Fiji Labour Party Leader because he is entitled to hold the post. Chaudhry said he is not doing anything wrong under Political Parties Registration Decree.
Under the Political Parties Registration Decree, a person is disqualified from being an office holder of a political party if that person has, in the five years preceding the date when he or she applies to become an office holder of the political party, has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of not less than 6 months. In Chaudhry’s case, he has been fined 2 million dollars and he only faces the 15 months prison sentence if he does not pay the fine by the 30th of June this year. This means that he can continue to be the FLP Leader as he is not facing a prison sentence at this stage. However Chaudhry cannot contest the September 17th election this year as his conviction remains after he was found guilty of three counts of breach of the Exchange Control Act and sentenced by Justice Paul Madigan. The 2013 constitution clearly states that a person may be a candidate for election to parliament only if the person has not, at any time during the eight years immediately before being nominated, been convicted of any offence under any law for which the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more. The same is stated in the Electoral Decree for candidate eligibility. When asked on why he continues to remain the FLP Leader after being convicted and sentenced, Chaudhry said only his members have the right to decide on his future.
The FLP will have a meeting tomorrow. FLP President, Lavinia Padarath has also revealed that Chaudhry appealed his court conviction last month. Source: Fijivillage News, 7 May 2014
Chaudhry insists on staying at the helm of Fiji Labour Party as its leader despite conviction
I’m entitled to hold my post in FLP - Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry said he will continue to be the Fiji Labour Party Leader because he is entitled to hold the post. Chaudhry said he is not doing anything wrong under Political Parties Registration Decree.
Under the Political Parties Registration Decree, a person is disqualified from being an office holder of a political party if that person has, in the five years preceding the date when he or she applies to become an office holder of the political party, has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of not less than 6 months. In Chaudhry’s case, he has been fined 2 million dollars and he only faces the 15 months prison sentence if he does not pay the fine by the 30th of June this year. This means that he can continue to be the FLP Leader as he is not facing a prison sentence at this stage. However Chaudhry cannot contest the September 17th election this year as his conviction remains after he was found guilty of three counts of breach of the Exchange Control Act and sentenced by Justice Paul Madigan. The 2013 constitution clearly states that a person may be a candidate for election to parliament only if the person has not, at any time during the eight years immediately before being nominated, been convicted of any offence under any law for which the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more. The same is stated in the Electoral Decree for candidate eligibility. When asked on why he continues to remain the FLP Leader after being convicted and sentenced, Chaudhry said only his members have the right to decide on his future.
The FLP will have a meeting tomorrow. FLP President, Lavinia Padarath has also revealed that Chaudhry appealed his court conviction last month. Source: Fijivillage News, 7 May 2014
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