25 Apr 2014

Fiji First registration now weeks away

2:40 pm on 25 April 2014

The Fiji regime leader has told FBC News he hopes to conclude the process of registering his proposed political party within weeks after deferring its registration planned for early this week.

Rear Admiral Frank Bainimarama, who is under police investigation for breaching the Political Parties Decree, says he cannot campaign until his proposed Fiji First Party has been registered.

To do so he has to sign up 5,000 paid-up members.

Rear Admiral Bainimarama was speaking in Cakaudrove after taking time out from his official duties last week to tour the country in a bus carrying the name of his proposed political party.

He has now said he is the only candidate so far after last month naming the women's affairs minister, Jiko Luveni, as his proposed party's first candidate.

Last year, the regime deregistered all parties, and four parties re-grouped, but not Fiji First.

It has been revealed this month that the Fiji First internet domain name was bought by the minister in charge of elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, in 2009.