Mrs Nakarawa tells tribunal Dr Nakarawa had told her not to apply, but she believed she was qualified

Vakaloloma Mocevakaca Nakarawa told the Constitutional Offices Commission Tribunal — which is looking into allegations of misbehaviour by suspended Commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Service, Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa that Dr. Nakarawa had advised her not to apply for the job of nurse practitioner at the Fiji Corrections Service, but she went ahead as she believed she was qualified for the role.

While taking the stand in court, Mrs. Nakarawa said people are entitled to their opinions about nepotism, but she had declared that she was the Commissioner’s wife before the interview process began.

She told the tribunal that she became aware of the nurse practitioner vacancy through a newspaper advertisement on the 26th of November 2024, and she applied because she saw nothing in the advertisement stating that a Commissioner’s wife could not apply.

Mrs. Nakarawa says she also wanted a change in her work environment.

She added that Dr. Nakarawa told her not to apply because it would look bad on him, and that he did not speak to her for about two days after that.

Mrs. Nakarawa says she then told Dr. Nakarawa that she had the right, as a citizen of Fiji, to apply for the nurse practitioner’s position.

She told the tribunal that she felt victimized and discriminated against.

Mrs. Nakarawa said she personally took her application to Dr. Nakarawa’s office and handed it to him before leaving.

When asked by the tribunal about possible conflict of interest concerns regarding her appointment, Mrs. Nakarawa maintained that everyone is entitled to their opinion, but she believed she had the necessary qualifications for the role.

When questioned about the drug testing of some officers in February, Mrs. Nakarawa said she was directed to carry out the drug tests and that the instructions came from the Commissioner’s office.

The tribunal asked whether she had sought consent from the officers before conducting the tests, she says that, to her knowledge, taking a urine sample did not require any consent.

However, the tribunal told her that, under the Constitution, such tests do require a person’s consent and said that if she were a doctor, she would know this.

The tribunal will reconvene on the 22nd of this month for Dr. Nakarawa to respond to the affidavits.