Nakarawa sought wife’s advice, not doctors, when reforming medical unit

The Fiji Corrections Service suspended Commissioner, Jalesi Nakarawa, did not seek any formal medical advice when restructuring new medical positions.

This was revealed during the final day of the tribunal hearing into his suspension in Suva on Saturday, after the three-member tribunal questioned the process of reform.

In his evidence, Nakarawa said that when considering the reform, he sought advice from his wife about the difference between the roles of a Nurse Practitioner and a Principal Medical Officer.

He said he also conducted his own research using information from the Ministry of Health website.

Judge Justice Dane Tuiqereqere questioned why he consulted his wife and not the Corrections doctor, Dr Orisi Vunibulu, who was medically qualified to provide advice.

He told the tribunal that Dr Vunibulu had refused to be part of the team responsible for implementing the Job Evaluation Exercise (JEE) policy.

During Dr Vunibulu’s evidence two weeks ago, he testified that he did not agree with Nakarawa’s new arrangements, particularly within the Medical Unit.

He told the tribunal that when Nakarawa approached him about the Nursing Practitioner position, he rejected the idea and advised him to appoint her to one of the divisional nurse positions instead.

He said he had offered to swap positions with Dr Rayvan Singh last year, not knowing that Dr Singh would be laid off just 20 days after his appointment in January this year.

“Did you think you knew better than Doctor Vunibulu, did you know the medical implications that your decisions would have on this,” Justice Tuiqereqere asked.

“You’re a Doctor of Law, not medicine, don’t you think that was dangerous.”

Doctor Singh’s removal

Nakarawa said Dr Singh’s removal and the day his wife, Vakaloloma Nakarawa, started work as a Nursing Practitioner was not a coincidence.

He said Dr Singh was removed because he failed to attend to an inmate who later died in his cell.

Although he was not disciplined for it, he was terminated.

Previous evidence showed that during their conversation in Nakarawa’s office, Dr Singh was told he was only trying to make changes.

Justice Tuiqereqere questioned him why the reasons for termination were not given to Dr Singh, but that, like Ms Koi, he had received a well-written reference.

He also questioned Nakarawa on why they did not retain Dr Singh for at least a month until a replacement was found.

Nakarawa said he “didn’t think of it then.”