10 May 2006

Fiji Labour Party wants elections supervisor dismissed for gross incompetence

1:31 pm on 10 May 2006

The leader of the Fiji Labour Party says he may take legal action against the electoral commission and the supervisor of elections if nothing is done about the party's concerns.

Mahendra Chaudhry has accused the supervisor of elections, Semesa Karavaki, of lying to the nation to cover up inefficiencies in the elections' office.

He says thousands of people had registered but have been unable to vote because their names are not on the electoral rolls.

Mr Chaudhry is calling for the dismissal of Mr Karavaki on the grounds of gross incompetence and inefficiency in the general election process.

He says he is awaiting a response from the Electoral Commission.

"they are considering it - if they don't - we may be forced to take legal action against the commission and the supervisor of elections - but I will wait and see what the answer is from them - it is a constitutional right and no one must be deprived of her or his constitutional right on the account of a administrative blunder"

Mahendra Chaudhry.