Regime directs that CCF be deregistered

Issue No: 693; 23 April 2001

 
The Qarase regime has taken steps to deregister the Citizens Constitutional forum as a charitable trust.

Following the directive from the regime, the Registrar of Charitable Trusts placed an ad in the papers giving the CCF 30 days to show cause on why he should not deregister the CCF.

The ad listed the following grounds for deregistration:

* That its objects are outside the meaning of "charitable purposes" as defined by Section 2 of Cap 67, and therefore its incorporation was made by mistake;

* That the objects and activities of CCF amount to political objects and goals and activities and as such are not within the meaning of "charitable purposes" as defined in Section 2 of Cap 67 for example CCF's activities leading up to the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment Act of 1997, CCF's active role in Chandrika Prasad .v. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice - Civil Appeal No. ABU 0078/2000S and in Civil Action #199 of 2001 - CCF & Ors .v. His Excellency the President of Fiji & AG. CCF's media statements on constitutional and political developments in Fiji amounts to political activity as CCF is attempting to influence the political developments and political decision making process in Fiji.

* That CCF's involvement in CA$119 of 2001 filed in Suva High Court tantamounts to a breach of trust as its activities were outside the trust objects as defined in Section 2 of the Act, or its registered objects.

The Registrar stated:
"AND TAKE NOTICE that in the light of the complaint, I am of the view that the incorporation of CCF as a charitable trust under the Charitable Trust Act was made by mistake AND TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that I am also of the opinion that CCF is no longer a charitable trust within the meaning of Cap 67 given its political involvement and activities and the TRUSTEES are therefore required within 30 days of this Notice to SHOW CAUSE as to why I should not cancel the incorporation of CCF pursuant to Section 13 of the Charitable Trust Act."

The regime made known its dislike for the activities of the CCF when the CCF refused to lend support to the regime.

It is understood that the directive came upon advice by the government lawyers in light of the law suit filed by the CCF challenging the re-appointment of the Qarase regime. The regime's intention is to show that the CCF has no standing in the court, thus the case should be thrown out.

The CCF's trustee, Professor Vijay Naidu stated that the trustees will meet and issue a response later. The CCF is the only NGO in Fiji involved in education on constitutional matters.

 

People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands
Disclaimer
Webmaster
Last update: August 27, 2001