The National Federation Party is asking the Fijian Elections Office to provide them copies of advice from the Fiji Roads Authority and Suva City Council that the land in question is a public reserve after the FEO this morning directed the NFP to remove a billboard or campaign material that has been placed outside of its headquarters at 124 Princes Road given that the area is a road reserve making it a public place.
In a letter to the Supervisor of Elections which is posted on the party’s facebook page, the NFP’s registered officer, Dalip Kumar says it is in their view, well within the boundary between the boundary pegs and 4 centimetres from the fence and even the flower plants are further away from the fence, but also within the boundary.
Kumar says they are asking for assistance from the FEO so that they may take legal advice on their directive.
He says their understanding is that the land on which the billboard is placed is part of NFP’s property and in other words, the fencing of the property is within NFP’s boundary and NFP’s property extends to, or close to, the footpath.
Kumar asks if the FEO has any survey evidence that says this is incorrect.
He further asks what provision of Section 112(3) of the Electoral Act they have breached.
Kumar says subsection (3) prohibits the placing of campaign posters and flags on public buildings, monuments, electricity or lamp posts and other public structures and NFP has not done any of that. The FEO in a statement earlier today had noted that the area in which the billboard is set up is not an approved designated area for placement of campaign materials and therefore, NFP has accordingly been directed to remove it and they have been given until 4pm this Friday to do so failing which the Supervisor of Elections will consider further action according to the Electoral Act 2014.
Questions have been sent to the Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem. He is yet to respond.
