We will respond to the statement by Bainimarama and it will come from the PM - Tikoduadua

Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua says they will reply to the statement by the Opposition Leader Voreqe Bainimarama and it will come from Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka himself.

He says until Rabuka makes the statement, he will wait because many media companies are after his comments.

In a video message on the FijiFirst Facebook page, the 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.

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.

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.

We are awaiting the comments from Rabuka and we have also sent questions to the Acting Solicitor General and Secretary to the Constitutional Offices Commission, Preetika Prasad.