Lack of loyalty, communication blamed for party's fall from grace

One of 17 FijiFirst Party members, sacked by the party leadership for voting in Parliament against a directive, says it is an unfortunate situation the country's largest political party finds itself in.

FijiFirst has been embroiled in controversy throughout its 16-year reign but the worst is since losing the election in 2022.

Its founder and former prime minister, Frank Bainimarama, was sentenced in May to a year in prison for perverting the course of justice over a police investigation into a complaint at the University of the South Pacific in 2021.

Less than two weeks after Bainimarama's sentencing, the 17 MPs approved a salary increase of more than 130 per cent for themselves despite calls by the FijiFrist leadership to reconsider due to the economic hardship faced by many Fijians.

They were sacked, followed by the mass resignation of Bainimarama and other founding party leaders.

Fiji's Parliament has approved salary increases for MPs including the Prime Minister and President. Photo/supplied

FijiFirst was deregistered by the registrar of political parties two weeks ago for not complying with the Electoral Act.

MP Alvin Maharaj has filed an appeal and a decision is expected next month.

Inia Seruiratu, Fiji's opposition leader, was among the party members who voted for the pay increase.

He has condemned the group's dismissal by the leadership, saying they were unaware of the party's constitution and lacked communication between the leaders and the MPs.

"Unfortunately, we have come through all this," he told Pacific Mornings' William Terite. "We were not aware of what was in the party's constitution. And this is the very thing that led us down this unfortunate path.

"We were rather focusing on the job at hand, getting things done, particularly when we were in government after winning the first two elections. We did not bother much about what's in the party's constitution.

"Then it came to light through the supervisor of elections that certain clauses within the party constitution are inconsistent with the laws of the country, particularly the electoral parties act and disclosures. That was probably the main reason behind what led to the recent decision."

Watch Inia Seruiratu's interview below.

The pay increase will see an ordinary MP's salary rise from FJ$50,000 to FJ$100,000 (NZ$37,000-NZ$74,000), the President's salary will increase from FJ$130k (non-taxable) to FJ$185k (NZ$96k-$137k), and the Prime Minister's salary will rise from FJ$320k-FJ$328.75k (NZ$237k-$243k).

Seruiratu said they voted for the pay increase because they were committed to the parliamentary process.

The former military officer said they were shocked at the party leaders' decision to sack the group and resign.

"Section 63 of the National Constitution talks about how members can be disciplined for voting against party decisions. It's unfortunate, most of us started to raise questions as to how and why this decision came from the party leader given he has been sentenced.

"We have followed the parliamentary process. We were involved for many months. And the decision just came on the night before the vote."

But party co-founder and former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said he was saddened about what had happened to FijiFirst - a party he added that was "built upon the principles and values, equality, and justice and fairness, has been compromised by the members who voted in favour of the pay hike.

"When a party writes a letter under section 63, those members lose or the seats become vacant, should they within seven days seek to have the matter heard, or challenge the validity of the vacancy, they go to a court of disputed returns within seven days, the moment they do that, then they become suspended," he told local media.

"The speaker did not issue any such letter about the vacancy of the seats nor have they filed any petition. In the court of disputed returns.

"Now all of that has happened, so my point being, is that they obviously have taken self-interest first," Sayed-Khaiyum said.

Seruiratu said discussions were held with the government on the Emoluments Committee report in parliament. And that is why a few of us, including me, decided to vote in favour of the motion because we thought that the [party] directive was not right.

"Our integrity and our character will be questioned as well because we have been part of that process. And for us just to abort it, because of the directive, will not look good for us, particularly the trust between us and the government on issues as such."

Seruiratu said there was no communication between the MPs and the party leadership.

But while he disagrees with Bainimarama and the party leadership, Seruiratu said he would support the former PM if he returned to politics.

"My loyalty does not change. He is a great leader and I do support him."

Nine of the 17 sacked FijiFirst MPs have opted to stand as independents and have pledged their allegiance to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, while the rest will await the outcome of Maharaj's appeal against the Registrar's decision to deregister the party.