Attorney-General Siromi Turaga has rejected claims made by the Leader of Opposition and former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama that he visited the Chief Justice, telling him to advertise various positions that fall under the Judicial Services Commission.
Speaking to fijivillage News this morning, Turaga says he only made a courtesy call to the Chief Justice, where they discussed a few other things.
He says the Chief Justice briefed them on what to do, and as a result of that, he advised that advertisements be put for vacant positions.
When questioned on the claims by Bainimarama that the Attorney General does not understand the separation of powers, Turaga says the judiciary is separate from the AG’s office.
He says whatever appointments are made by the Judicial Services Commission will have to be signed off by the Attorney-General.
He adds that these are administrative matters, and he is sure the former Attorney-General, in his former capacity, would have exercised those powers also.
Leader of Opposition and former Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama claims they have heard reports that personnel from the Prime Minister’s Office allegedly contacted Commissioners from the Constitutional Offices Commission and from the Public Service Commission to tell them to resign because there is a new Government.
In a video message on the FijiFirst Facebook page, Bainimarama says anyone with basic acumen would know that these Commissioners stay on despite a change of government and claims these Commissioners were not informed that they had the right to stay on.
Bainimarama asks why was the Prime Minister’s Office involved in this matter when the Constitutional Offices Commission and the Public Service Commission are independent bodies and also asks where is the Attorney General in all of this.
He also asks why is the Minister for Home Affairs asking the Commissioner of Police to tender in his resignation when clearly he has no powers to do so and says why all of a sudden, the Constitutional Office Commission was having a meeting yesterday afternoon.
Bainimarama says he wants to inform the uneven three legged stool government of Sitiveni Rabuka, that they have to follow the Constitution and the law and they cannot do whatever they like.
He adds he is informing all Permanent Secretaries and other civil servants and those serving on various boards, organizations and independent bodies that they must not resign from their positions, even though the new government and their supporters will bully them, intimidate them and even threaten them.
Bainimarama has asked them to be strong as they have not done anything wrong and have been appointed through a due process and because they had the skill sets, know how, knowledge and acumen to contribute to their organisations and to Fiji.
Questions have been sent to the Prime Minister, the Acting Solicitor General and Secretary to the Constitutional Offices Commission and Minister for Home Affairs.
Attorney-General Siromi Turaga has rejected claims made by the Leader of Opposition and former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama that he visited the Chief Justice, telling him to advertise various positions that fall under the Judicial Services Commission.
Speaking to fijivillage News this morning, Turaga says he only made a courtesy call to the Chief Justice, where they discussed a few other things.
He says the Chief Justice briefed them on what to do, and as a result of that, he advised that advertisements be put for vacant positions.
When questioned on the claims by Bainimarama that the Attorney General does not understand the separation of powers, Turaga says the judiciary is separate from the AG’s office.
He says whatever appointments are made by the Judicial Services Commission will have to be signed off by the Attorney-General.
He adds that these are administrative matters, and he is sure the former Attorney-General, in his former capacity, would have exercised those powers also.
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