Face to face public consultations on draft Police Bill to start next week
Bill should not reach Parliament - Tikoduadua

Face to face public consultations on draft Police Bill to start next week

Bill should not reach Parliament - Tikoduadua

By Vijay Narayan , Semi Turaga
Tuesday 09/03/2021
NFP Leader, Professor Biman Prasad, NFP President, Pio Tikoduadua and Minister for Policing Inia Seruiratu. [Image: Biman Prasad/Facebook, Seruiratu/Fijian Govt.]

Face to face public consultations for the draft Police Bill are expected to start on the 15th of this month however some groups like the National Federation Party say the bill should not reach parliament.

A review team will visit 21 centres throughout Fiji.

They will also go as far as Rotuma, Yasawa, Kadavu, Ovalau, Taveuni and the Lau group.

The public consultation is funded by the United Nations Development Programme and the New Zealand Foreign Affairs, Trade and Aid programme.

However National Federation Party President, Pio Tikoduadua says the draft bill must not be allowed to reach the floor of parliament.

Tikoduadua says it is inconceivable that government could use provisions in the draft Police Bill to impose martial law even during emergency situations and deploy police as soldiers subjected to military law.

He pointed out the draft bill empowers the President to employ the Police Force and subject it to military law during an emergency or war.

Tikoduadua says the draft bill defines emergency situation as natural disasters, man-made disasters and any other situation which give rise to or may give rise to casualties, and or damage or loss of property, infrastructure, essential services or affects the means of livelihood or health or the general wellbeing of the public on a scale which is beyond the normal capacity of the affected communities to cope with unaided.

He says right now government’s prime concern and top-most priority should be to ease the pain and suffering of its citizens by improving health facilities, implementing measures to reduce cost of living and arrest the growing problem of worsening infrastructure.

NFP Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says provisions of the draft bill is at the height of totalitarianism, absolute dictatorship and complete erosion of fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens.

He has questioned why people are being asked to comment on a draft legislation.

Prasad claims that the government will bring the bill to Parliament under Standing Order 51 to avoid public debate and scrutiny.

He claims the provisions of this bill will clearly be used to persecute opposition political leaders and civil society.

Prasad says provisions like the imposition of life imprisonment or $1 million fine on people who refuse to provide passwords of their electronic devices, police being allowed to eavesdrop and record conversations and recruitment of informers through lure of payment have no place in Fiji.

The NFP Leader also questions why is the government treating its citizens like terrorists and hardened criminals.

Minister for Policing Inia Seruiratu has said that the public consultation phase is extremely important because they need to adequately capture and take into consideration the interests, concerns and voices of every Fijian.

He said the review of the Fiji Police Force’s primary legislation is part of government’s priorities to be tabled in parliament this year.

Seruiratu said initially, the review process of the Police Act 1965 began in 2019 with an in-house and inter-agency consultation programme where submissions were received from all the five divisional police commanders, directors and inter-agency partners.

Online submissions on the proposed law started on the 26th of last month and will continue for 30 days.



Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Girmit Celebrations 2023
The Girmit story isn’t a story confined to one community in Fiji, it is a story that belongs to all of us. This was highlighted by the National ...
3 days ago

Fiscal Review Commitee members, Richard Naidu and Vani Catanasiga appear on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Fiscal Review Committee chair, Richard Naidu and senior member, Vani Catanasiga appeared on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan to discuss ...
4 days ago

Prof. Prasad appears on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad appeared on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
6 days ago
FEATURE NEWS
Makoi residents worried about continuous drug dealing
Residents from Makoi continue to raise concerns regarding the selling of drugs near a major supermarket in the area where some boys are often seen smo...
4 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Various provinces raise concerns regarding participation of youth and women in the GCC - Tagicakiverata
Various provinces have raised concerns during the Great Council of Chiefs consultations regarding the participation of youth and women in the GCC ...
4 hours ago

Long lines of people outside the Fiji Museum today
There were long lines of people outside the Fiji Museum today waiting for their chance to be able to see the displays. Vinti Chandra from Nadi ...
4 hours ago

Ratu Sukuna was known as a man of two worlds – Ratu Wiliame
He was known as a man of two worlds, as a prominent chief and as the first among equals of the Fijian cadre in the British ...
4 hours ago

Tuqiri and Samo to host rugby activities across Fiji for Vuvale week
Fijian Rugby legends and former Wallabies Lote Tuqiri and Radike Samo will join Queensland Reds’ Joana Rabaka and Isaac Henry alongside FRU staff ...
6 hours ago

Paul Walker’s brother Cody names newborn son after late actor
Paul Walker’s brother Cody Walker has named his newborn son after the late actor. Cody says he was devastated when Paul – best known for his ...
9 hours ago

TOP