Latest news with #SitiveniRabuka
RNZ News
2 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Fiji FICAC saga: suspension rescinded, appointments revoked
Observers say that the anti-corruption commission should be an important pillar of Fijian democratic checks and balances. Photo: ABC/Supplied Fiji's prime minister says the country's president has reviewed his decision to suspend the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, and rescinded the suspension. However, President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has instead revoked the initial appointment of Barbara Malimali as Commissioner. Sitiveni Rabuka wrote on Facebook that this was to implement the first recommendation in chapter eight of a Commission of Inquiry (COI) report in accordance with legal advice. Lalabalavu has also withdrawn the rescission of the appointment of Lisiate Fotofili as acting deputy FICAC Commissioner and his return to his substantive position in the judiciary. Instead, he has revoked his initial appointment as acting deputy Commissioner - also "in accordance with the first recommendation in chapter eight of the COI report". The Fiji Law Society issued a statement on Sunday saying suspending the Commissioner of FICAC without the advice of the Judicial Services Commission is unlawful . Society President, Wylie Clarke said the prime minister has no constitutional role in the appointment or discipline of the Commissioner and acting deputy Commissioner of FICAC. Barbara Malimali - who was also the Electoral Commission chairperson - was revealed as the new FICAC commissioner last September. The announcement was causing a stir due to it being unclear if she held the Electoral Commission chairperson role at the time of for appointment - raising concerns about conflict of interest. Then, Malimali was taken for questioning by FICAC officers , sanctioned by the anti-corruption agency's acting deputy commissioner Francis Puleiwai. The Law Society statement this week said the "FICAC saga" has distracted the Fijian government for many months and the Society had hoped the COI report would bring that to an end. Fiji Opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu, has called on the Government to make the COI report public. Rabuka said he is committed to release of the report which is funded by the people of Fiji. "However this will be done in a manner to ensure that investigations are not prejudiced, civil rights of accused persons are respected and the rule of law maintained," he said.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
FICAC suspension unlawful, says Fiji law society
.. Photo: Facebook/FLS The Fiji Law Society says suspending the Commissioner of Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) without the advice of the Judicial Services Commission is unlawful. Society President, Wylie Clarke said it is equally unlawful for President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu to appoint an acting FICAC Commissioner, and dismiss its deputy commissioner and re-appoint him to a magistrate's role, without the recommendations of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). It follows Fiji prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka posting on social media that the president had taken several actions, in response to recommendations of a report by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner. Rabuka said the president made decisions "after advice from me as prime minister and minister responsible for the Commission of Inquiries Act". This included suspending Barbara Malimali . Clarke said according to Rabuka, Ratu Naiqama appears to have made the FICAC decisions on the advice of the prime minister, and if that's the case, these actions are not constitutional or lawful. He said the prime minister has no constitutional role in the appointment or discipline of the Commissioner and acting deputy Commissioner of FICAC. "It appears both the prime minister and His Excellency the president have been poorly advised on their powers," the Law Society boss said in a statement. "The Government statement says that his Excellency acted in accordance with sections 81 and 82 of the Constitution. However s.82 is very clear. The president acts only on the advice of Cabinet or a Minister or of some other body or authority prescribed by this Constitution for a particular purpose as the body or authority on whose advice the president acts in that case. "In this case the 'prescribed authority' is the JSC." The Law Society statement added that the "FICAC saga" has distracted the government for many months and the Society had hoped the COI report would bring that to an end. Fiji Opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu, has called on the Government to make the COI report public. Seruiratu told local media he's not worried about the developments, saying everyone is replaceable. But he said the report should be made available to the public for the sake of transparency. Fijian Attorney General, Graham Leung, has also been dismissed by the prime minister, who cited findings from the same COI report. Pac News reported him saying the decision is in the best interest of the people that his government serves. Fiji Village reported Leung saying he respects the constitutional authority of the prime minister. Leung had been the Attorney-General for less than a year.
ABC News
6 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Fiji president suspends anti-corruption commissioner
Fiji's anti-corruption chief has been suspended and her deputy sacked as police investigate her appointment to the top post. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Fiji's President has initiated the suspension following the recommendations of a Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of the head of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. Mr Rabuka says FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali's suspension comes into immediate effect as police investigate allegations laid out in the report. He did not reveal the allegations but said Deputy Commissioner Lisiate Fotofili's appointment has been rescinded. The ABC's reporter in Fiji Lice Movono said there are concerns that the suspension did not go through the Judicial Services Commission and it may be challenged in court.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Fiji's anti corruption commissioner suspended
Fiji's coalition government continues to struggle at bringing democratic processes back after 16 years of dictatorship. (Supplied) Photo: ABC/Supplied Fiji's prime minister has announced the suspension of the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). Barbara Malimali - who was also the Electoral Commission chairperson - was revealed as the new Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) commissioner last September. The announcement was causing a stir due to it being unclear if she held the Electoral Commission chairperson role at the time of appointment - raising concerns about conflict of interest. But then, Malimali was taken for questioning by FICAC officers. The following day, FICAC put out a statement saying Malimali was back in office and ready to lead FICAC. The statement said that Malimali stated she would not let those events deter her from performing her duties as prescribed under the law. Then on Thursday night, 29 May, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka posted on social media that the president had taken several actions in response to recommendations of a report by the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the appointment of the FICAC Commissioner. "Barbara Malimali has been suspended with immediate effect as Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, pending investigation by the Fiji police force of allegations against her raised in the COI report," Rabuka wrote. Lisiate Fotofili's appointment as acting deputy Commissioner of FICAC has been rescinded, "and he returns to his substantive position in the Fiji judiciary", Rabuka said. The 648-page COI report was transmitted on 14 May, his post said. Lavi Rokoika has been appointed as acting Commissioner. Rabuka asked for patience "as we carefully map the implementation of the COI report". "I am committed to release of the report which is funded by the people of Fiji. "However this will be done in a manner to ensure that investigations are not prejudiced, civil rights of accused persons are respected and the rule of law maintained."
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Pacific news in brief for 28 May
A man has died after pirates reportedly boarded two boats off Madang, PNG, and forced people into the water The passengers were travelling from Madang Town to Saidor Station. Photo: Google Maps A man has died after pirates reportedly boarded two boats off Madang, PNG, and forced people into the water. NBC PNG reported the passengers were travelling in two 40-horse powered dinghies from Madang Town to Saidor Station. Operator of the search and rescue boat Leonard Kudud said a distress call was received from deployed police personnel, reporting a pirate attack near Tabalip Point. He said during the attack, the pirates forced all passengers overboard and ordered them to swim ashore. One male passenger, unable to swim, drowned. The survivors were transported to the Basamuk Plant Site, where they received medical attention. Fiji's deputy prime minister Biman Prasad said it's up the President to release information on the Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of the anti-corruption office head, Barbara Malimali. The Fiji Times reported Prasad saying the inquiry was called for and appointed by President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. He said it's the president who should be asked about former Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry's claim that the inquiry cost taxpayers over FJ$2 million. Prasad also defended Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's failure to make the report public. He said Rabuka is an experienced prime minister who knows what is right for the country. US President Donald Trump's executive order enabling more commercial fishing in the Pacific is being challenged in court. Environmental activist group Earthjustice said the order, which allows fishing in some protected zones in the Pacific, will have region-wide consequences to marine ecosystems. AP reported Earthjustice calling the order "piling lawlessness on top of lawlessness" and a threat to "a wide variety of scientific and historical treasures". The protected zones encompass various US-owned territories, including Johnston Atoll near Hawai'i. Papua New Guinea's health department has approved a ban on the use and importing of e-cigarettes. The National reported health minister Elias Kapavore saying there are concerns about the use of e-cigarettes among young people aged from 11 to 17. Anyone breaching the ban could be fined 10,000 kina - about US$2,440. Companies breaking the rules would face a fine of 100,000 kina, and this can be doubled if it's a tobacco company in breach. Kapavore said according to statistics, tobacco is estimated to cause 8.8 per cent of all deaths in PNG. The law was to come into effect seven days after its formal gazettal notice was published. Australia is giving another US$1.9 million for climate and disaster resilience for Pacific Farmer Organisations. The Climate Resilient Farming in Pacific Islands program is coordinated by Pacific Farmer Organisations, who represent a network of 30 farmer organisations and more than 100,000 smallholder farmers. Australia's High Commissioner to Tonga Brek Batley said locally tailored climate solutions are essential for a prosperous, resilient and inclusive agriculture sector across the Pacific. Australia said the program benefited 16,800 farmers in seven countries in its first year. Solomon Islands parliament has passed legislation allowing the setting up of Special Economic Zones. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said the Special Economic Zones can steer the country towards sustained peace, economic recovery, and long-term development. He said by concentrating government efforts and resources in designated areas, the zones can encourage economic diversification and job creation.
