The FijiFirst party, established by former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in 2014, has officially ceased to exist following a winding-up order issued by the High Court in Suva. This decision came about after the party was deregistered in July of the previous year for failing to amend its constitution within the set deadline.
Justice Thushara Rajasinghe directed the Official Receiver to take charge of the party’s assets and liabilities and mandated the submission of a detailed list within 21 days. Additionally, Justice Rajasinghe ordered that there can be no disposal or transfer of any property registered under the party’s name. The Registrar of Titles has also been instructed to halt any property transfers unless permitted by the Registrar of Political Parties.
The deregistration of FijiFirst follows an earlier directive from the Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa, who announced that the party had until June 28, 2024, to modify its constitution to align with legal requirements. The party was unable to fulfill this requirement, leading to its immediate deregistration under Section 12(4) of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013. Any party members unhappy with this decision have the option to appeal to the Electoral Commission of Fiji within 14 days, after which winding-up procedures will commence if no appeal is filed.
This marks a significant turning point not only for the party but also for its founders, Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, whose political careers have come to an unfortunate conclusion. Once enjoying considerable success, securing 59 percent of the votes and 32 parliamentary seats in the 2014 General Election, the party has faced continuous decline in support over subsequent elections. With the last election yielding only 42.55 percent of the vote and 26 seats, the combination of dwindling popularity, significant unpaid debts, and Bainimarama’s imprisonment for public authority abuse has led to their resignations and the dissolution of FijiFirst.
The remaining Members of Parliament from FijiFirst will now serve as independents, and while they have expressed intentions to uphold the party’s legacy and principles, the future remains uncertain. Nonetheless, the political landscape in Fiji is expected to evolve as these former members navigate their new status outside of a party framework. As they face the challenges ahead, there persists a hope that this period of transition will lead to renewed dialogues and enhancements in governance that reflect the changing aspirations of the Fijian populace.
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