REVEALING the bank details of political party candidates standing for a general election is too intrusive.
This was a submission by a former political party general secretary during the Fiji Electoral Law Reform consultations in Nadi on Monday.
“I know of parliamentarians who go and get their FNPF just to file their registration fee,” said the Nadi resident.
“If not, they borrow money.
“Then they have to have money in their bank accounts and have those details put out in public just to qualify. I think it is too intrusive.”
He said one measure that could be implemented to ensure qualified candidates were being chosen to run for a general election was to ensure they did not have a criminal record.
“They must not be charged for a criminal offence. They should be highly educated in order for them to contribute meaningfully.”
He said candidates must also be financially stable.
“I remember a parliamentarian who I was standing next to in the last general elections. When his party won, he said, ‘Oti vakadua na gunu ti tavioka!’ (No more drinking tea with cassava!).
“This is the kind of mentality we do not want.
“We want people who can significantly contribute to national policies and are not opportunistic.”
