Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) member Ro Teimumu Kepa has adhered to requirements of the Political Parties Act 2013 and the complaint against her is dismissed, says Acting Registrar of Political Parties and Acting Supervisor of Elections Ana Mataiciwa.
The Fijian Elections Office (FEO) received a complaint from a concerned member of the public on October 20, 2023 against Ro Teimumu on her appointment to the board of Airports Fiji Ltd and Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service while being a member of the Social Democratic Liberal Party.
Ms Mataiciwa stated that the FEO conducted its own verification with the relevant authorities to confirm the appointment and also obtained confirmation from SODELPA on the membership status of Ro Teimumu.
“On October 23, 2023, we wrote to Ro Teimumu Kepa requesting her response on the complaint,” she said in a statement yesterday.
“We received a response from her on October 26, 2023 attaching her resignation letters addressed to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister/ Honourable Minister for Finance, dated October 23, 2023, for resignation from the Airports Fiji Ltd Board and Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Services Board respectively.
“We have done an independent analysis of the complaint, the facts, response, law and precedents and we find that Ro Teimumu Kepa has adhered to the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.”
Ms Mataiciwa further reiterates that the FEO’s role is to ensure that stakeholders uphold and adhere to the Political Parties Act 2013.
“If anyone chooses to breach the Act, despite being warned, we will refer them to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption for investigation. Therefore, any person taking up public office must ensure that they comply with section 14(1) of the Act.”
