The closure of the FijiFirst era was confirmed following its deregistration as announced by the Registrar of Political Parties, Ana Mataiciwa. According to the Political Parties Act section 30(1), individuals upset by the decision can file an appeal with the Electoral Commission of Fiji within two weeks of the verdict.
If no appeal is filed within this given time, the winding-up process by the Registrar will begin as described in the Act’s section 28(1). A formal explanation of the decision was shared with all 26 members of Parliament for FijiFirst, including Parliament’s Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.
FijiFirst was instructed on May 30, 2024, to update their constitution with specific requirements as per Schedule 2 of the Political Parties Act. The updates were to be completed by June 28, 2024, 4 pm. After the party failed to meet these expectations, they were deregistered immediately, resulting from Act’s section 12(4).
As stated before, those discontent with the deregistration can appeal within 14 days of the decision to the Electoral Commission of Fiji. Without an appeal, the winding-up proceedings as laid out in the Act’s section 28(1) will commence. A detailed letter about the termination was sent to all FijiFirst Parliamentary members and Speaker Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu.
The party was meant to modify its constitution by last Friday, 4 pm. However, it was impossible for the members to amend it without the founding members, who all quit the party the previous month. The newspaper tried to get in touch with the opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu by email and phone, but received no response.