But did Education Minister Reddy LIE to Parliament when he said he was a 'TOPPER'; he is yet to respond to Fijileaks about the following claim:
The [FFP] Privileges Committee has just tabled their report to the House on the matter of privilege against NFP President, Roko Tupou Draunidalo and have recommended the following:
(1) Hon. Draunidalo must formally apologise in Parliament while undergoing formal censure and before leaving the precincts – to the following –
(i) Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts; and
(ii) the people of Fiji,
the apology must reflect the severity of the breach and the fact that it has had far-reaching effects and gone viral on social media here and abroad.
The apology format should also recognise that the Honourable Minister did not in fact utter the words “dumb natives”;
(2) Hon. Draunidalo be suspended for the remainder of the term of Parliament, with immediate effect from 03 June 2016 upon tendering of the apology and censure by Parliament;
(3) During the period of suspension, Hon. Draunidalo is not allowed to enter the parliamentary precincts including the Opposition Office. Immediately upon her suspension, Hon. Draunidalo must be ordered to leave the precincts of Parliament and to remain outside of Parliament precincts; and
(4) If Hon. Draunidalo fails to comply with any of the above, that necessary enforcement measures must be imposed to ensure compliance.
The members of the Privileges Committee who sat to determine these recommendations are:
The members of the Privileges Committee are:
■ Honourable Ruveni Nadalo, Deputy Speaker (Chairperson)
■ Honourable Inia Seruiratu, Leader of the Government in Parliament and Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management
■ Honourable Faiyaz Koya, Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism
■ Honourable Rosy Akbar, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation
Witness Evidence
The Hon. Attorney-General presented his views to the Committee (refer attached Verbatim Notes).
The Committee Members did not have any questions, however a copy of the audio recording and precedent cases from the High Court of the Republic of Fiji were tendered as part of the Honourable Attorney-General’s evidence as well as social media postings which were referenced in his oral evidence.
The recording was played for the Hon. Members before the Hon. Chairperson thanked the Hon. Attorney-General for availing himself and released him.Hon. Draunidalo was invited to present her views on the matter. She requested that she be excused in light of the fact that she chose to exercise her right to silence and
that she did not believe she would receive a fair hearing.
The Secretariat provided collated precedents from Fiji and other relevant jurisdictions to enable the Committee to consider the available sanctions ranging from the mild to the most severe. The Research team were asked to find similar offences in other jurisdictions and were given an hour’s time to research. After reconvening, the Committee was informed that there was very little that could be gathered specific to the Members’ request – with the only similar circumstance the suspension of a British Labour MP from her party roles for anti-semitic statements on social media.
The Committee after deliberating was able to reach a consensus and resolved unanimously to consolidate their findings as recommendations of the Committee.
The Committee finalised and endorsed the Report.
"The comments by Hon. Draunidalo has led to a flurry of social media responses that bring the Parliament into serious disrepute. It is not the example we want to set as standard or acceptable pattern of behaviour for Members of Parliament and equally for the Fijian population because it will undermine the very institution which the Constitution and which we all need to protect to ensure that there is sustained parliamentary democracy and respect for this very critical branch of the State. It is also critical that our children and younger population are not exposed to this type of racial slurs as the norm or see that this Parliament is condoning such behaviour by an Honourable Member of Parliament." - Privileges Committee
(1) Hon. Draunidalo must formally apologise in Parliament while undergoing formal censure and before leaving the precincts – to the following –
(i) Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts; and
(ii) the people of Fiji,
the apology must reflect the severity of the breach and the fact that it has had far-reaching effects and gone viral on social media here and abroad.
The apology format should also recognise that the Honourable Minister did not in fact utter the words “dumb natives”;
(2) Hon. Draunidalo be suspended for the remainder of the term of Parliament, with immediate effect from 03 June 2016 upon tendering of the apology and censure by Parliament;
(3) During the period of suspension, Hon. Draunidalo is not allowed to enter the parliamentary precincts including the Opposition Office. Immediately upon her suspension, Hon. Draunidalo must be ordered to leave the precincts of Parliament and to remain outside of Parliament precincts; and
(4) If Hon. Draunidalo fails to comply with any of the above, that necessary enforcement measures must be imposed to ensure compliance.
The members of the Privileges Committee who sat to determine these recommendations are:
The members of the Privileges Committee are:
■ Honourable Ruveni Nadalo, Deputy Speaker (Chairperson)
■ Honourable Inia Seruiratu, Leader of the Government in Parliament and Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management
■ Honourable Faiyaz Koya, Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism
■ Honourable Rosy Akbar, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation
Witness Evidence
The Hon. Attorney-General presented his views to the Committee (refer attached Verbatim Notes).
The Committee Members did not have any questions, however a copy of the audio recording and precedent cases from the High Court of the Republic of Fiji were tendered as part of the Honourable Attorney-General’s evidence as well as social media postings which were referenced in his oral evidence.
The recording was played for the Hon. Members before the Hon. Chairperson thanked the Hon. Attorney-General for availing himself and released him.Hon. Draunidalo was invited to present her views on the matter. She requested that she be excused in light of the fact that she chose to exercise her right to silence and
that she did not believe she would receive a fair hearing.
The Secretariat provided collated precedents from Fiji and other relevant jurisdictions to enable the Committee to consider the available sanctions ranging from the mild to the most severe. The Research team were asked to find similar offences in other jurisdictions and were given an hour’s time to research. After reconvening, the Committee was informed that there was very little that could be gathered specific to the Members’ request – with the only similar circumstance the suspension of a British Labour MP from her party roles for anti-semitic statements on social media.
The Committee after deliberating was able to reach a consensus and resolved unanimously to consolidate their findings as recommendations of the Committee.
The Committee finalised and endorsed the Report.
"The comments by Hon. Draunidalo has led to a flurry of social media responses that bring the Parliament into serious disrepute. It is not the example we want to set as standard or acceptable pattern of behaviour for Members of Parliament and equally for the Fijian population because it will undermine the very institution which the Constitution and which we all need to protect to ensure that there is sustained parliamentary democracy and respect for this very critical branch of the State. It is also critical that our children and younger population are not exposed to this type of racial slurs as the norm or see that this Parliament is condoning such behaviour by an Honourable Member of Parliament." - Privileges Committee
Fijileaks: What about FFP Minister Parveen Bala who is sitting in Parliament instead of Prison for allegedly killing Puna Chand? What message is Aiyaz Khaiyum passing to our children in Bala's case? That Fiji government can't find a magistrate to try Bala for causing death by dangerous driving? And contrast with this case of a University of Fiji student, as reported by Fiji Sun, 2 June 2016: 'Constable Liew also said a life was lost and the case was of national interest. Magistrate Kashyapa Wickramanasekara concurred with the Mr Singh and in allowing bail, Magistrate Wickramanasekara imposed a travel ban with a $2000 bond.' And yet Bala has been allowed to go in and out of Parliament and even travel abroad as a FFP Government Minister. Bloody Hyporcrites!
http://fijisun.com.fj/2016/06/02/death-driver-accused-on-strict-bail/
And what message is Aiyaz Khaiyum and FFP sending to our children from Government Whip Ashneel Sudhakar via his social media Facebook?
The top-most minister, Mahendra Reddy, in action like the smart person and not a fool he is - and the Speaker immediately making a ruling when the Attorney General Khaiyum complains about a word we cant hear. The Speaker rules to let the debate "Please continue" as he (Reddy) has not rejected the statement allegedly from Hon Tupou Draunidalo and a point of order only comes from that member - NFP
The two FFP MPs Koya and Akbar laughing to Khaiyum's Monkey Dance in Parliament. They passed judgment on NFP President Draunidalo!
