IT is hard to believe that the Prime Minister was unaware of what his government ministers were doing and that he only found out about the draft Police Bill after the public uproar, says Fiji Trades Union Congress national secretary Felix Anthony.
Responding to media reports that Mr Bainimarama had pulled the plug on the proposed Police Bill, he said he was surprised.
“We are surprised that Mr Bainimarama said that the Bill was not government policy and that he was not aware of it,” he said.
“I think the consultation was launched publicly, the whole country was aware of that as there was a cake-cutting ceremony so I think the Prime Minister needs to explain.”
He said Mr Bainimarama was obliged to tell the public how he was not made aware of it.
“He needs to tell the public what actually happened and not only that but we believe that there needs to be full consultation on any proposed Bill with the public and all parts need to be addressed.”
He said it was “crazy” and an “insult” to the people of Fiji to ask them for their opinions on the proposed Bill which was breaching the Constitution.
“It is simply crazy that they know what was wrong with it, they know it was breaching the Constitution, yet they wanted to ask the people to tell them what is wrong with it, which is simply crazy and an insult to the people of Fiji.”
