INDEPENDENT positions that fall outside the ambit of Government will soon be filled.
This after the much-awaited Constitutional Offices Commission met in Suva yesterday.
The commission, chaired by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, will soon advertise the positions of the chairperson and members of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission, chairperson and members of the Public Service Commission, Commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Service and the Auditor-General.
Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa said the commission would first work on the advertisements for the various positions and once approved, it would be advertised.
Ro Teimumu said an independent panel, which would have nominations from both the Prime Minister and Opposition, would go through the applications.
According to a Government statement issued last night, the Prime Minister’s nominees to the committee are civil engineer Sanjay Kaba and business executive Ajith Kodagoda.
Suva lawyer Richard Naidu has been appointed on the advice of the Opposition Leader.
Ro Teimumu said it was important that this commission be set up because it was responsible for independent appointments in the country.
“The people this commission will appoint will play an important role in the country.
“It is good that the commission has met and discussed ways forward,” she said.
According to the laws of the commission, the names selected for the position of the chairperson and members of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission be submitted to the secretariat two days before the second meeting of the commission.
This is to allow the secretariat to circulate the recommended names.
According to the regulation, the appointments can then be made at the second meeting of the commission.
The regulation further outlines that for the position of the Commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Service and the Auditor-General, the secretariat be directed to advertise the vacancies, shortlist the applicants for interview based on the qualifications advertised in the vacancies, and a panel of interviewers to be selected by the secretary in consultation with the chairperson.
The commission will hold its next meeting on May 8, 2015.
