FORMER Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) senior medical officer Dr Rayvan Singh believes his sacking was premeditated and unfair.
Dr Singh said his services were terminated on January 20, 2025, the same day he inducted incoming nurse practitioner Vakaloloma Mocevakaca Nakarawa into FCS’s Medical Unit on the instructions of her husband, Dr Jalesi Nakarawa, the Commissioner of Corrections.
Mrs Nakarawa was subsequently appointed to act as a medical officer despite not possessing the academic qualification for that post.
“That morning, after our morning meeting, he (Mr Nakarawa) instructed me to conduct an orientation for her and the two new nurses that had joined a week prior,” Dr Singh said.
“As instructed, I held a meeting with her and the medical staff at Korovou, Suva. At midday, I was called by director Human Resources Samisoni Naba to come to headquarters.
“I arrived in the afternoon, after the orientation and was handed the termination letter by Mr Naba.”
He said he immediately spoke to Mr Nakarawa where he “pleaded to withdraw the termination”.
“I pleaded for reconsideration, citing my significant responsibilities and the lack of prior warning, especially given my recent relocation from Lautoka to Suva on January 2 with my family,” Dr Singh said.
“He then terminated my employment, stating, ‘It’s not your fault, I just want to change things’.”
“He gave a statement to the Fiji Sun and said that I wasn’t performing. In my defence , I was never issued with any formal warnings or received any negative assessments by my superiors to my knowledge.
“I believe, this was just a poor attempt to save face when questioned by the media.
“Furthermore, I believe my termination was premeditated and ….”
In an earlier response to this newspaper, Dr Nakarawa had said his wife was “administratively appointed to act as divisional medical unit-in-charge for the Central, Eastern and Southern Division”.
However, an official minute sent from his office on January 23, three days after Dr Singh’s sacking, said that Ms Nakarawa “will serve as the acting medical officer” for the three divisions until a permanent medical officer was duly appointed.
Justice Minister Siromi Turaga, the line minister for FCS, said a complaint had been lodged with the Constitutional Officers Commission (CoC) because he was not advised beforehand about all these appointments and reappointments, as required by law.
Questions sent to Dr Nakarawa regarding Dr Singh’s claims remained unanswered when this story went to press.
