Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga has told the Constitutional Offices Commission Tribunal looking into the allegations of misbehaviour by suspended Commissioner of the Fiji Corrections Service, Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa, that he was not consulted by the suspended Commissioner about his wife applying for the Nurse Practitioner’s position at the Corrections Service.
While being questioned by lawyer Juleen Fatiaki on whether he had approved the creation of the nurse practitioner position at the Fiji Corrections Service, Turaga said he did not.
He says Dr. Nakarawa was fully endorsed by the Committee, but soon after taking up his appointment, they began to see behavioural changes in the operations of the Fiji Corrections Service.
The Acting Attorney-General says that in 2023, his son wanted to join the Corrections Service, but he told him not to because people would see it as a conflict of interest and believe he was using his position to influence the recruitment process.
He adds that Dr. Nakarawa should have done the same and should not have allowed his wife to take up the role of nurse practitioner.
The Minister also revealed in court that the Nurse Practitioner position was not part of the posts recommended in the cabinet paper that was approved in Parliament.
He says the position was created by the suspended commissioner.
Turaga also says he had been trying to meet with Dr. Nakarawa, but the suspended commissioner did not want to meet, often making excuses.
He adds that he wrote to the Prime Minister, who chairs the Constitutional Offices Commission, about the complaints he was receiving and advised him of what had occurred.
The Minister says it is sad to see that Dr. Nakarawa did not live up to the expectations of the COC and him as the minister.
Turaga says Dr. Nakarawa should have informed him about the selection of his wife for the role of nurse practitioner, and he only found out on the day of the appointment.
He says there were many complaints he received about this matter, and he forwarded all the complaints to the COC.
The tribunal will continue at 2.30pm tomorrow.
