A high-ranking Government official says President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has not received any formal recommendation regarding changes to the leadership of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption.
The ‘clarification’ follows media reports alleging the President had not accepted a recommendation from the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) to remove FICAC acting commissioner Lavi Rokoika.
According to the senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Chief Justice Salesi Temo, who chairs the JSC, met the President on Monday, February 23, to discuss a decision reached during a JSC emergency meeting last Sunday in which, according to the official, the JSC considered a whistleblower report and the arrest of citizen publish Charlie Charters by FICAC.
According to the official, the President raised concerns about the urgency of the JSC meeting and queried why the JSC had moved swiftly to convene and reach a decision based on a whistleblower’s letter when it had publicly announced it would deliver a final decision on or before March 31.
“This announcement by the JSC was made after it called a meeting with all stakeholders on February 18 to discuss the Justice Tuiqereqere ruling of February 2,” the official said.
“In that announcement, the JSC said it was committed to upholding the rule of law, maintaining independence and integrity in its decisions.”
The President also reportedly expressed disappointment that the High Court decision had not been formally conveyed to his office.
“He asked why this did not take place as a matter of formality, and yet the JSC organised a meeting very quickly based on the whistleblower’s letter.
“The President’s position with the JSC chair was they needed to address the High Court ruling first before anything else.”
In his ruling, Justice Tuiqereqere determined that only the JSC – not the Prime Minister – has the legal authority to advise the President on the removal of the FICAC Commissioner.
Meanwhile, while delivering a statement at the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital Gift of Life ceremony yesterday, President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu referred to a report by The Fiji Times in which lawyer Tanya Waqanika had said a “constitutional showdown” was likely.
“I am here to be part of this great nation – warnings will come and go but it will never change (that),” he said.
“I believe in the living God. The living God has brought me this far to serve.”
