Members of the Opposition caucus will now function as independent MPs, as the party to which they belong, FijiFirst, has been officially deregistered. The party’s status was confirmed by the Supervisor of Election (SoE) Ana Mataiciwa.
FijiFirst’s deregistration was due to a failure to rectify a flaw in the party’s constitution, specifically related to the handling of members’ grievances. Despite being given until 4pm on June 28, 2024, to amend the issue, the party neglected to do so, resulting in immediate deregistration under Section 12(4) of the Political Parties Act 2013.
With the party’s termination, Senior Opposition MP Premila Kumar emphasized the significance of the party’s contribution to Fiji under leader Voreqe Bainimarama. Until official proceedings are made regarding the situation, the former FijiFirst MPs aim to maintain their current roles, continuing their service in the Opposition and serving as independent MPs.
Similarly, Senior Opposition MP Jone Usamate, along with other Opposition MPs like Alvick Maharaj and Penioni Ravunawa, expressed their respect and acceptance of the SoE’s decision. They plan to continue upholding the principles of the now-deregistered party and fulfilling their duties as mandated by parliament.