National Federation Party President and MP, Pio Tikoduadua, NFP Leader, Professor Biman Prasad and MP Lenora Qereqeretabua appeared before the Parliamentary Privileges Committee yesterday, which is looking into the recent privilege matter involving the Prime Minister and Tikoduadua.
The Prime Minister and two NFP caucus staff are expected to appear before the committee today.
Chairperson, Veena Bhatnagar, Inia Seruiratu, Doctor Mahendra Reddy, Alvick Maharaj, Mosese Bulitavu and Adi Litia Qionibaravi are part of the committee.
Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and the Leader of the Opposition, Sitiveni Rabuka have stepped down from the committee.
Rabuka and SODELPA MP, Adi Litia Qionibaravi who had said on Monday that they will not participate in the committee meetings as they do not want to prejudice the case being investigated by Police, had gone into the committee meeting room at about 2pm yesterday.
However, Rabuka left soon afterwards.
Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum recused himself from the committee as he says SODELPA had written to the Speaker of the House, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau that they would not be part of the meetings as Sayed-Khaiyum was conflicted and had made comments about the matters of privilege.
Sayed-Khaiyum says he stepped down and Agriculture Minister, Doctor Mahendra Reddy has been appointed as a committee member.
Sayed-Khaiyum also says that it was hypocritical as Rabuka had also made statements about the incident but he had earlier gone back into the committee meeting.
Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama met with the Privileges Committee for a brief moment yesterday in relation to the privilege matter referred to the committee.
The Parliamentary Committee has the powers of the court and can summon any person to appear before them.
Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has referred the incident involving Tikoduadua personally attacking the Prime Minister and the alleged incident of the Prime Minister confronting Tikoduadua within the parliamentary precincts on August 9th this year, to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee.
Ratu Epeli says there is a breach of privilege by both Tikoduadua and the Prime Minister, and to ensure decorum in parliament, the matter has to be referred to the committee.
The Speaker has told the committee to come back with their report and recommendations by tomorrow.
Parliament is then expected to debate on the Privileges Committee report before a vote is taken.
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