THE delayed appointments to critical bodies such as the Mercy Commission and the Fiji Law Reform Commission needs to be addressed immediately.
The issue was raised by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, in its Consolidated Review Report on the operations of the Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) from 2014 to 2022 which was tabled in Parliament this week.
The report said the delays could severely hinder the functionality of these bodies.
“The Commission on the Prerogative of Mercy is responsible for the timely processing of applications for the grant of mercy to convicted prisoners and ensuring timely advice to the President of the Republic of Fiji. The Committee noted that for several years, no meetings were held because committee members were not appointed,” it said.
Similarly, the Fiji Law Reform Commission has been operating without a chairperson for several years.
“Law Reform involves the research of laws and provision of advice to the government on its policies and the preparation of draft laws for the ministries and departments before submission to Cabinet.
“The Committee notes that during these reporting periods, the Fiji Law Reform Commission has been operating in the absence of the Chairperson of the Commission and recommend that the appointment of the Chairperson be carried out promptly.”
Additionally, the report identified gaps in OAG’s reporting practices, including missing data on liquor licences, gender representation among staff, and vacant positions. It recommended that future reports include gender segregation data and the levels of posts held by women.
On capacity building, the Committee acknowledged the efforts made, adding “training needs for professional officers were mainly met through attendance at seminars, workshops, symposiums, and conferences, locally and overseas.”
While commending the OAG for its legislative drafting and legal services, the Committee called for ongoing law revisions to meet Fiji’s changing needs and emphasised simplifying report language for broader public understanding.
The report also stressed the need for additional resources to address staff shortages and increasing demands from government ministries.
