National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad has criticised the special administrator of Lautoka and Ba, Anil Amin, for wearing the mayoral chains of office during the Fiji Day celebrations in Lautoka on Monday.
The chain has always been worn by elected mayors of a town or city, and the worldwide practice represents the authority of the mayor’s office.
“Here we have a special administrator who has seen it fit to make a claim to the position of the mayor’s office,” Prof Prasad said.
“He is not elected, he was appointed to the post and it’s preposterous of Mr Amin to wear the chain in public.
“They often ignore all conventions, protocols and have no decency in conducting themselves in public.
“The unelected and appointed administrators continue to flout rules and good governance and have not been able to improve the services to the ratepayers.
“This public display of mayoral claim by an administrator shows how desperate they are to be somebody.”
Prof Prasad said the mayoral chain of office is meant to be worn by an elected official.
“The ratepayers of town and city councils have not been allowed to elect their local governments for 15 years now.”
Mr Amin said he would respond in due course when asked to respond to the statements made by Prof Prasad.
