Ministers must abide by certain processes in place to ensure transparency and accountability while in Government, says National Federation Party (NFP) leader Professor Biman Prasad.
He said once a coalition government was formed, someoney would become the prime minister and once the head of government was chosen, the PM had certain powers.
“The Prime Minister has certain responsibilities towards the ministers, whether they are from the People’s Alliance (PA), National Federation Party (NFP) or Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA),” he said.
“It is the Prime Minister’s responsibility to provide leadership to the Government. And so, all of us who are ministers in Cabinet, we don’t go into Cabinet to represent NFP, PA or SODELPA.
“We go there as one government and that’s a Coalition Government, whose leader is the Prime Minister, and he deserves certain respect.” Prof Prasad said there were processes in place and certain things that the ministers were required to do.
“The ministers are required to provide the Prime Minister with honest advice on policy and the Prime Minister has the right to raise questions, to ask ministers to explain things.
“These are normal mechanisms through which Cabinet runs, and every minister must adhere to those principles of running a government.”
