The Fiji Labour Party has accused the Coalition Government of manipulating proposed municipal boundaries in an attempt to politically benefit the ruling parties ahead of long-awaited local government elections that have now been deferred.
The party said that villages outside the normal municipal areas were included in the proposed ward boundaries, while nearby settlements were left out.
“Labour describes it as discriminatory, undemocratic, unconstitutional, and an exercise in gerrymandering.”
It said it strongly objected to villages being included even though they were far outside the usual boundaries, while nearby areas were excluded.
And in response to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s explanation that deferment was necessary to redirect the $18million in funds for the local government elections towards fuel crisis relief measures and financial assistance for Energy Fiji Ltd, Labour questioned whether the Coalition was ever genuinely committed to holding the elections.
“It pointed out that despite repeated public assurances, no firm polling date had ever been formally confirmed.
“This is not how people should be treated on information about elections, it is downright insulting.”
Labour said it had earlier raised concerns over the criteria used by the Minister for Local Government in determining municipal boundaries and the allocation of wards, arguing the changes risk undermining public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process.
