Proposals to annul the marriage

Tom and Mary have a baby and are still married because Mary opposed any proposals to annul the marriage believing that marriage was for life and in any case, she needed the financial support Tom could provide. Ever since they got married Mary has been trying to modernize Tom.

She believes that marriage should be a partnership of equals and that there should be a sharing of tasks and responsibilities. Nevertheless, she expects Tom to provide the money to pay for food and things for the baby.

Tom resents this as he knows that Mary spends money on cigarettes and does not work as hard as she could growing vegetables for the family or keeping the house clean. He suggests that it would be better if he went to the north of the island where they are recruiting laborers to build a new airfield.

Mary agrees but does not want to stay with Tom’s parents while he is away. Tom points out that they cannot afford to live anywhere else and they have an argument. Tom hits Mary. She threatens to report him to the police so he leaves. She does not hear from him for three weeks and when she does it is only to tell her he is sending her some money through and she is to go to the bank to collect it.

He tells her he has a job on the construction project and she is to remain with his parents until he returns.

After two months Tom returns for the weekend. He insists on having sex with Mary even though she says she does not want to because she is tired out from looking after the baby. After two days, Tom leaves again, having bought new clothes for the baby and some new things for the house. He says he will send Mary a money transfer each pay day. After a further six weeks no money has come through.

Advise Mary – use the applicable laws from fiji jurisdiction.