No Cabinet Reshuffle: Rabuka

The head of the Coalition Government appears to be making ill-advised decisions about top government appointments.

This was after the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka went back on his word which he announced on October 13 titled: “Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka Announces Cabinet Reshuffle”. 

The reshuffle was to come into effect on October 17.

However, in a press conference yesterday Prime Minister Rabuka dropped the bombshell calling off the reshuffle.

He said the October 13 announcement was not a reshuffle announcement but an intention, meaning an aim or plan of the Coalition Government.

It received backlash from the Fiji Law Society, Republic of Fiji Military Forces, his own Cabinet, Opposition and other politicians.

When queried if he had sought legal advice before making the announcement, Mr Rabuka said: “There was none, it was from my own decision.”

Yesterday Mr Rabuka said the reshuffle would be made when the President, of the recommendation of the Prime Minister, gazettes and approves it.

“In the meantime, there has been concerns raised by the Fiji Law Society,” he said.

“We are a Government that listens, we listen to them, we listen to the lawyers available in Government to advise us.

“We have now obtained private legal advice. We have enough advice for me to make the substantive announcement.

“I have taken the advice of the Fiji Law Society and other legal Practioners and from the S-G’s (Solicitor-General) office, all those come to my assessment and I will make a decision. I will announce the decision when the time is right.”

On the legality of the appointments of the Acting Director of Public Prosecution John Rabuku and Alipate Qetaki as Justice of appeal, Mr Rabuka said they were also part of the reassessment of intentions.

Mr Rabuka said if their positions don’t ‘hold water’ they will not be considered for the post.

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