Parmod Chand Explained

Parmod Chand
Constituency Mp10:NFP List
Parliament10:Fijian
Term Start10:21 March 2017
Term End10:14 November 2018
Constituency Mp11:Macuata East Indian Communal Constituency
Parliament11:Fijian
Term Start11:25 February 1994
Term End11:15 May 1999
Successor11:None (constituency disestablished)
Birth Place:Labasa, Fiji
Party:National Federation Party

Parmod Chand (sometimes known as Pramod Chand) (born 1955 or 1956) is a Fijian politician and former member of the Parliament of Fiji. He is a member of the National Federation Party (NFP).

Background and family life

Chand was born in Labasa on Vanua Levu.[1] His father was NFP politician Vishnu Prasad.[1] He worked as a businessman and sugarcane farmer, and ran a bus company.[2] He has served as president of the Fiji Bus Operators Association.[3]

Chand is also a pastor for the Assemblies of God church in Labasa.[4]

Political career

Chand served on the Labasa town council between 1992 and 1996.[4] He was first elected to the House of Representatives of Fiji in the 1994 general election, winning the Macuata East Indian Communal Constituency for the NFP. He contested the Macuata East Open Constituency in the 1999 and 2006 elections, losing on both occasions by large margins.

In January 2006, Pramod Chand as the NFP's Senior Vice-President condemned the Fiji Labour Party for offering support to the Military to depose the government. "The FLP is now trying to return to power not through the ballot box but by the barrel of the gun," he said. He called the call "treasonous" and "treachery of the highest order", and called for a police investigation into public statements from the FLP's President, Jokapeci Koroi.[5]

When elections were restored after the 2006 Fijian coup d'état he contested the 2014 election for the NFP, winning 1014 votes.[6] This was not enough to secure election, but he re-entered parliament in 2017 following the resignation of former NFP MP Tupou Draunidalo.[7]

In December 2017 Chand was questioned by police over allegations of sedition,[8] however no charges were laid.[9]

Chand stood as a candidate in the 2018 election[10] but gained only 864 votes and was not re-elected. He stood again at the 2022 election, winning 1857 votes,[11] but again missed out on re-election.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Parmod Chand Ready for New Role . Fiji Sun . Shratika Naidu . 26 January 2017 . 18 October 2018.
  2. Web site: Too many public service vehicles says bus owner . Radio Fiji . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717084606/http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=21092 . 2011-07-17 .
  3. Web site: All Stakeholders To Work For A Common Goal: FBOA . Fiji Sun . Ashna Kumar . 11 September 2016 . 18 October 2018.
  4. Web site: Parmod Chand . National Federation Party . 18 October 2018.
  5. http://www.answers.com/topic/reaction-to-the-2005-2006-fijian-political-crisis Reaction to the 2005-2006 Fijian political crisis
  6. Web site: 2014 election official results . Fiji Elections Office . 18 October 2018.
  7. Web site: Chand vows to fight for issues of the north . Fiji Sun . Arieta Vakasukawaqa . 21 March 2017 . 18 October 2018.
  8. Web site: Police questioning of Fiji opposition MP condemned . RNZI . 12 December 2017 . 18 October 2018.
  9. Web site: Fiji Director of Prosecutions finds no grounds for charges against MP . RNZI . 8 February 2018 . 18 October 2018.
  10. Web site: Chand does not want two men govt while Sayed-Khaiyum wants people to see what Fiji has achieved . Fiji Village . 25 October 2018 . 28 December 2022.
  11. Web site: Parmod Chand (483) . Fijian Elections Office . 28 December 2022.