FijiFirst MPs Who Defied Party Orders May Face Suspension or Expulsion

The 16 FijiFirst Members of Parliament (MP) who voted in favour of the Emoluments Committee report on salary and allowance increase may face suspension or expulsion.

This is after they defied party orders on Friday instructing all 26, who make up the Opposition, to either vote against or abstain from voting on the motion.

Last night, a statement by FijiFirst president Ratu Jaji Satakala confirmed the stance by the party through the acting general secretary, Faiyaz Koya, in a caucus meeting on Friday.

The Central Executive Committee of FijiFirst will now take steps as outlined in the FijiFirst Constitution to address this issue.

Mr Kaya, Hem Chand, Premila Kumar voted against the motion, Ketan Lal, Rinesh Lal, Joseph Nand and Viam Pillay abstained from voting while Alvick Maharaj did not vote.

Those who voted in favour: 

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.

FijiFirst constitution on

Discipline Section 5.6 states that: 

“It shall be the duty of the Central Executive Commitee if at any time it shall be of the opinion that the interests of FijiFirst so require, to consider the question of the suspension or expulsion of any member or demotion of any Central Executive Commitee member at a special Central Executive Commitee convened for that purpose. Such member shall be given notice in writing, sent to the last known address of such person, of such meeting and shall be informed in such notice that he or she may offer written explanation or an explanation of his or her conduct to such meeting in person. If at such meeting, after considering any explanation offered, two-thirds of the members of Central Executive Commitee present and voting for the suspension of that member, demotion or expulsion, the member shall thereupon be demoted, suspended for such period as the Central Executive Commitee so constituted may specify or cease to be a member or Central Executive Commitee member as the case maybe. An expelled member shall have the right of appeal to the Leadership Committee.”

The commitee is headed by the FijiFirst president who has the power to call a meeting.

FijiFirst submission

In its submission, FijiFirst had recommended the increase for members of Parliament from $50,000 to $100,00 and the Leader of Opposition from $120,000 to $200,000

Under Comparative Analysis of Current salay of Parliamentarians to civil servants headline, the FijiFirst submission highlighted:

“Comparing Parliamentary salary and civil servants shows a grim picture. To put simply, MPs are paid the equivlaent 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. MPs salary are not even close to Magistrates starting salary. This is not to say that these posts do not deserve these salaries but when we make the comparison with MPs salaries and peg it against the five critical components that I mentioned above, the salary for MPs are quite ludicrous to say the least.”

Meanwhile, in supporting the motion on Friday, Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu had said: “We have needs. We have wants. Some have mortgages. We have relatives. We have our commitments to our churches. These are all facts of life.” Attempts to follow up with Mr Koya and those who voted against or abstained the motion from FijiFirst were unsuccessful last night.

Background

Meanwhile, back in 2015, former Minister for Health, under FijiFirst, Dr Neil Sharma was at the centre of controversy for allegations of having defied party orders. However, according to media reports, Dr Sharma later resigned from Parliament for personal reasons. Jilila Kumar then took up Dr Sharma’s parliamentary

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