Tikoduadua tells members: No allegation of fund misuse

National Federation Party President Pio Tikoduadua says the party does not agree with all of the discrepancies raised by the Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem.

While addressing party members at NFP’s Annual General Meeting yesterday in Suva, he felt the need to respond to the issues the party is going through with the Fijian Elections Office on the party’s accounts and financial records.

He first assured NFP supporters and members that there was no allegation of misuse of funds.

“We are a small party. Other parties seem able to collect millions of dollars in donations from the rich and powerful. We are not so lucky.” He said Mr Saneem has raised some questions about their paperwork and financial records and the party will respond to his queries. “We do not agree with all of the alleged discrepancies that the Registrar has raised. However, it is clear to me that in some cases our recordkeeping and accounting needs to be sharpened up.”

Mr Tikoduadua said as President of NFP it was his job to make sure that the party gets it right.

“We will work with the Registrar and his team, and our new auditors, I. Naiveli & Co, to answer his ques

tions. If our accounts have to be corrected, we will correct them.”

At the conclusion of yesterday’s AGM, Mr Tikoduadua said he could not discuss the outcome of the meeting. A press statement will be circulated in due course.

Riddhi Damodar resignation

Former NFP Vice President, Riddhi Damodar, thinks the party does not have a promising future with where they stand at the moment. She said her resignation was a result of her feeling ignored by the party leadership after numerous attempts to raise her concerns has fallen on deaf ears.

Ms Damodar said she will decide her membership with the party after the Annual General Meeting which was held yesterday.

Party Leader Biman Prasad said not every suggestion made by party members is accepted by the party.