The message from Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka was quite clear and strong: “There will be many investigations!”.
He confirmed this as he addressed staff and students of the Navuso Agricultural Technical Institute during the handover of an excavator recently.
The country, he said, was going through very difficult and testing times, and he connected this to the recent commission of inquiry into the Barbara Malimali case, noting a lot of people were jumping up and down or wondering whether they were mentioned or had been mentioned and whether they would get into trouble or not.
He reiterated there would be many investigations, “and the person who has no reason to worry about the investigation is the person who keeps trodding the straight path of diligence, honesty and loyalty”.
These values, he said, were not only important in governance but also rooted in faith.
In saying that, we also have Justice David Ashton-Lewis suggesting there was “no compromise” while referencing an interview he gave to a broadcast media organisation in Australia last month.
We had reached out to Justice Ashton-Lewis on a social messaging platform last week following public concerns over an interview he had with Australian radio station Radio 4CRB.
In the interview for a program called “The Judge” on May 29, Justice Ashton-Lewis spoke of details relating to the findings of the Malimali Commission of Inquiry (COI) report; comments made in his capacity as the Commissioner of the inquiry.
Justice Ashton-Lewis made 72 recommendations in his report, many of which, he felt, could prompt fresh criminal investigations.
“If satisfied, the Director of Public Prosecutions will lay indictments and then there’ll be a trial,” Justice Ashton-Lewis said.
Last Monday, Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu said they were still analysing the report. Efforts to clarify whether people named and implicated in the report had been questioned or charged were futile.
In another interesting turn of events, Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau is Acting Prime Minister until Thursday.
He will also oversee the PM’s other portfolios during Mr Rabuka’s absence.
There are questions obviously hanging over this announcement considering the fact we have three deputy PMs.
So many questions! So many answers! So many interpretations, technicalities connected to processes and systems, insinuations, perceptions and opinions!
As we watch developments unfold, the tone is set. No one is above the law! Well it seems that way! In such times, we look to the powers that be to move forward with transparency and diligence.
The public deserves answers, and we say the justice system must be allowed to operate without fear or favour! And we are looking for accountability.
We are looking to hold power to account!
