A parliamentary Committee to review Fiji’s electoral process is necessary to ensure a free, fair and credible election, says Opposition MP Professor Biman Prasad.
The National Federation Party leader said this during debate on the review of the 2014 Electoral Commission Annual Report by the Standing Committee for Justice, Law and Human Rights last week.
“Let’s set up a Parliamentary Committee and deal with the recommendations and I am sure that the 2018 recommendations is being considered by the committee right now,” he said.
“Let’s wait for that report and let’s set up a Parliamentary Committee.
“As I said politics is not about winning elections. It is about doing the right thing by the country and by the people. So let’s do that.”
He said time was of the essence as the 2022 General election draws nearer.
“We still have time and let’s do that and deal with those recommendations so that when we go into the general elections in 2022 we are happy and we ensured that the processes surrounding elections, the conduct of the Elections Commission is also properly accounted for.
“If we don’t do that the perception of bias, the perception of rigging of vote-buying and of not having free, fair and credible elections will remain and we will remain a struggling democracy.”
