THE CHOSEN ONE: Frank names his choice, and er, its NOT Khaiyum. Graham Davis: "Inia Seruiratu – PM’s old comrade in arms in military and one of the government’s heaviest hitters – is his designated successor."
Fijileaks: Was Seruiratu stiched up by Khaiyum's Boys to be cut down to size?
Fijileaks: Was Seruiratu stiched up by Khaiyum's Boys to be cut down to size?
 The Secretary to Cabinet, and the PM’s Permanent Secretary, are guilty of a serious dereliction of duty, bringing the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet into disrepute. They should have warned Bainimarama at the very moment it was brought to their attention that Minister Seruiratu intended to defy Cabinet Procedures to discuss the Bill publicly. |  BIBLE man who needs to read Cabinet Manual
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*If we were operating in a normal parliamentary democratic situation, Minister Inia Seruiratu should RESIGN immediately because he has been humiliatingly countermanded by his Prime Minister Bainimarama who has exposed his gross incompetence and insubordination as a Cabinet Minister for authorizing public consultations over a Bill which Cabinet has not seen nor approved. |  CAKING ILLEGAL POLICE BILL |
When Seruiratu officially launched the consultations, he never mentioned that Cabinet had foreknowledge or had approved the Draft Fiji Police Bill.
*But what is quite astonishing is the obvious deafening silence from the Secretary to Cabinet and the PM’s Permanent Secretary. The Secretary to Cabinet should have immediately drawn to the attention of either Bainimarama or Minister Seruiratu that the Draft Fiji Police Bill will require prior endorsement or approval of Cabinet before it could be released for public discussions.
*And the Secretary to Cabinet, with the assistance of the PM’s Permanent Secretary, if necessary, should have warned Bainimarama at the very moment it was brought to their attention that Minister Seruiratu intended to defy Cabinet Procedures to discuss the Bill publicly. If they had done this, the oversight would have been nipped in the bud and Seruiratu ordered to bring the Bill before Cabinet.
*But it took over 20 days before the consultations began? That they failed to do this, both the Secretary to Cabinet and the PM’s Permanent Secretary, are guilty of a serious dereliction of duty, bringing the Office of Prime Minister and Cabinet into disrepute.
*Finally, were members of the Opposition benches part of the Sector Committee that conducted the public consultations over the Draft Fiji Police Bill?
*If so, they should all be required to RESIGN or be RELIEVED from serving in that Committee because, as members of the Opposition, it was obligatory for them to ascertain from the Speaker or the Secretary-General or the Chairman of the Sector Committee concerned, that the Draft Fiji Police Bill had Cabinet approval with appropriate serial numbers cited or indicated, before they or their Opposition Leader agree to participate.
*Opposition MPs should know they are not in Sector Committees to legitimize the parliamentary process but "to oppose in order to depose".
But the lure of sitting allowances can be irresistible too.
Minister for Defence, Inia Seruiratu has apologised for the mistake in bringing in the Draft Police Bill and overlooking the process to ensure it is vetted by the Solicitor General’s Office and cabinet.
Seruiratu says he will also not focus on the comments made by politicians like the National Federation Party President, Pio Tikoduadua as he does not want the work of the Police to politicise the issue.
Seruiratu has also instructed that the Defence Ministry conducts its own investigations on why the draft bill was not vetted by the Solicitor General’s Office, and he will have the report by Monday.
He says they were only supposed to get public submissions on what people want as the 1965 Police Act needs to be modernised.
Seruiratu says they need good, relevant and futuristic laws that can address our issues.
He says he has his own views but they will let the consultation process take place and see what the public wants in the Police Bill.
Fijileaks: As expected, the Draft Fiji Police Bill submission forms have now VANISHED from the site
Seruiratu says he will also not focus on the comments made by politicians like the National Federation Party President, Pio Tikoduadua as he does not want the work of the Police to politicise the issue.
Seruiratu has also instructed that the Defence Ministry conducts its own investigations on why the draft bill was not vetted by the Solicitor General’s Office, and he will have the report by Monday.
He says they were only supposed to get public submissions on what people want as the 1965 Police Act needs to be modernised.
Seruiratu says they need good, relevant and futuristic laws that can address our issues.
He says he has his own views but they will let the consultation process take place and see what the public wants in the Police Bill.
Fijileaks: As expected, the Draft Fiji Police Bill submission forms have now VANISHED from the site
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ROBIN NAIR, Former Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs:
"And where does the New Zealand Government and UNDP fit into this fiasco?
Who left egg on their faces? Both NZHC and UNDP Office owe an explanation to the Fijians. Did the two donors know the content of the Bill?
Was the Public Consultation an irregular exercise of power by a Minister or Ministers, if not straight out illegal.
Does the Fijian Government owe an apology to the NZ Government and the UNDP?
Will the money expended under this Aid be refunded to the two donors? How much has already been expended and what for?
In a normal democracy, the Minister or Ministers would resign for such irregular exercise of power. If there is any doubt as to whose baby all this was, the Opposition should call for a Judicial Enquiry.
Any self-respecting Government would want to find out what contributed to this mammoth disaster and extremely poor governance. This Bill had caused great anxiety in the populace. Accountabiliy! Accountability! ACCOUNTABILITY!!!
"And where does the New Zealand Government and UNDP fit into this fiasco?
Who left egg on their faces? Both NZHC and UNDP Office owe an explanation to the Fijians. Did the two donors know the content of the Bill?
Was the Public Consultation an irregular exercise of power by a Minister or Ministers, if not straight out illegal.
Does the Fijian Government owe an apology to the NZ Government and the UNDP?
Will the money expended under this Aid be refunded to the two donors? How much has already been expended and what for?
In a normal democracy, the Minister or Ministers would resign for such irregular exercise of power. If there is any doubt as to whose baby all this was, the Opposition should call for a Judicial Enquiry.
Any self-respecting Government would want to find out what contributed to this mammoth disaster and extremely poor governance. This Bill had caused great anxiety in the populace. Accountabiliy! Accountability! ACCOUNTABILITY!!!
After receiving approval from Fiji Roads Authority, the Ministry of Health and the Suva City Council, BEN PADARATH has been informed that their proposed march permit for Saturday March 20th 2021, has been DENIED
Now that the Police Draft Bill has been retracted, the pressing question to ask is: who drafted it?
It is a contentious proposed legislation which met with furious public condemnation with draconian measures which breach international conventions on human rights and even fall foul of the Bill of Rights provisions in the 2013 Constitution.
The people of Fiji have a right to know who drafted the obnoxious provisions of the Bill?
Prime Minister Bainimarama in his statement retracting the Bill said it had not been endorsed by Cabinet or the Solicitor General and did not reflect government policies.
Yet the Minister for Defence, Inia Seruiratu had staged a huge programme to launch consultations on the draft Bill on 3rd March. A picture of the event shows him proudly flanked by the NZ High Commissioner, Jonathan Curr and UNDP representative Nanise Saune-Qaloewai.
VIPs present at the launch included the Acting Chief Justice Kamal Kishore, Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde, members of the RFMF and senior members of the Police Force among others.
It seems preposterous that such a high- powered launch of a draft Bill, with a cake cutting ceremony, expensive salusalu and all, was organized by the Minister knowing that the draft had not been endorsed by either the Cabinet or the Solicitor General.
So, who authored the Bill?
NZ High Commission says it did not contribute to the Bill. Likewise the UNDP resident co-ordinator. Both say they were only asked to assist with the consultation process – seems rather hard to digest.
It seems rather disconcerting to see the representatives of our development partners frequently fraternizing with a government that has such a poor record of human rights and is seen as lacking in accountability and transparency.
Isnt it ludicrous that such high powered people as the NZ High Commissioner, UNDP rep, Acting CJ and the DPP would be attending a launch of a draft Bill that they had not bothered to peruse.
The Minister says work on the Bill originated in 2019 with submissions made by all four Divisional Police Commanders, Directors and interagency partners.
Now, we do not for an instance believe that the Fiji Police have the expertise to draft such a Bill. NZ and UNDP have denied any input in it.
So who are these ‘interagency partners’ who made submissions? Which brings us back to the initial question: who authored the infamous Bill?
It is a contentious proposed legislation which met with furious public condemnation with draconian measures which breach international conventions on human rights and even fall foul of the Bill of Rights provisions in the 2013 Constitution.
The people of Fiji have a right to know who drafted the obnoxious provisions of the Bill?
Prime Minister Bainimarama in his statement retracting the Bill said it had not been endorsed by Cabinet or the Solicitor General and did not reflect government policies.
Yet the Minister for Defence, Inia Seruiratu had staged a huge programme to launch consultations on the draft Bill on 3rd March. A picture of the event shows him proudly flanked by the NZ High Commissioner, Jonathan Curr and UNDP representative Nanise Saune-Qaloewai.
VIPs present at the launch included the Acting Chief Justice Kamal Kishore, Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde, members of the RFMF and senior members of the Police Force among others.
It seems preposterous that such a high- powered launch of a draft Bill, with a cake cutting ceremony, expensive salusalu and all, was organized by the Minister knowing that the draft had not been endorsed by either the Cabinet or the Solicitor General.
So, who authored the Bill?
NZ High Commission says it did not contribute to the Bill. Likewise the UNDP resident co-ordinator. Both say they were only asked to assist with the consultation process – seems rather hard to digest.
It seems rather disconcerting to see the representatives of our development partners frequently fraternizing with a government that has such a poor record of human rights and is seen as lacking in accountability and transparency.
Isnt it ludicrous that such high powered people as the NZ High Commissioner, UNDP rep, Acting CJ and the DPP would be attending a launch of a draft Bill that they had not bothered to peruse.
The Minister says work on the Bill originated in 2019 with submissions made by all four Divisional Police Commanders, Directors and interagency partners.
Now, we do not for an instance believe that the Fiji Police have the expertise to draft such a Bill. NZ and UNDP have denied any input in it.
So who are these ‘interagency partners’ who made submissions? Which brings us back to the initial question: who authored the infamous Bill?
