Why Beddoes missed out on the race: Saneem

Supervisor of Election Mohammed Saneem says former Opposition leader and provisional candidate for Unity Fiji, Mick Beddoes, did not comply rightfully with statutory declaration rules.

Hence, the withdrawal of his nomination by the party before the 12pm deadline, on Monday.

Mr Saneem revealed that the Fijian Election Office received a declaration in the party list at the time the party submitted its nomination also contained Mr Beddoes’ documents.

Mr Saneem said the paperwork which had Mr Beddoes signature was scanned but somehow the solicitor witnessed it in Suva whilst Mr Beddoes was in Nadi.

“It had a declaration from Mr Mick Beddoes, which was scanned and there was a scanned signature on the document but somehow the solicitor witnessed it in Suva, and Mr Beddoes was in Nadi,” Mr Saneem said.

“It was dated to yesterday (Monday), and when we received that declaration we questioned the party as to why, If Mr Beddoes was in Suva, why are the documents produced scanned, why didn’t he sign before the council.”

Mr Beddoes, on his Facebook page, claimed that his original application materials were mailed last week and reached the FEO headquarters by midday Monday.

He claimed that on Monday at 1.51 pm, which was after the 12 pm deadline for nominations, the original, fully completed application paperwork were sent to the FEO headquarters.

“The party gave us three different versions of that document status, one was that Mr Beddoes is in Suva and that the document is actually signed by him,” Mr Saneem said.

“But then we showed the party that the document was actually scanned.”

Mr Saneem further queried the lawyer who came with the party on who was present in the nomination room, whether Mr Beddoes was present before the lawyer when he signed.

“And then the party said we’ll get you a replacement declaration because he’s in Suva,” Mr Saneem said

“They did not have (replacement), he was not in Suva. So definitely, the declaration was not proper, and it did not comply with the statutory declaration rules.”