'Fire Tabuya'

Fresh calls this week for the sacking of the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya after her 'death penalty' call last week against traffickers of huge amount of illicit drugs in Fiji.

Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry did not mince his words yesterday saying, "Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should fire Lynda Tabuya.

"He should fire her. She should be sacked as the Minister for speaking on matters without consultation from the Cabinet or the Prime Minister. It is an important issue," Mr Chaudhry said.

Mr Chaudhry's call was strongly supported by Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube.

"Comments made by Ms Tabuya demonstrated her lack of respect for Mr Rabuka,” Mr Narube said.

“Significant issues like that need to be taken seriously. No Minister should be making such comments. This shows that the Prime Minister does not control his ministers very well.

“He (PM) needs to put in place policies and guidelines, obviously he hasn’t because you find ministers such as Lynda just standing up and talking on any issue disrespecting the Cabinet and disrespecting the Prime Minister.”

Ms Tabuya said she wanted to “see the death penalty brought to Fiji for those who traffic large quantities of drugs. We are vulnerable, our borders are vulnerable, we need to explore the possibility of the death penalty to protect our people.”

The 2013 Constitution Chapter 3 – Part A – Legislative Authority

46 (2) says: No person or body other than Parliament has authority to make any law in Fiji, except under the authority conferred by this Constitution or by a written law.

PM: Cabinet should be consulted

Ms Tabuya’s comments were not received well by pockets of Fijians including human rights defenders and social media users, Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission (FHRADC) which said it “is a serious violation of human rights,’ Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua, who opted for a “humane and comprehensive approach,” former director of FHRADC Shaista Shameem said “death penalty is a cruel and degrading punishment,” and Fiji Law Society which said “the death penalty is not included in the 2013 Constitution.”

Yesterday, during the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, said Ms Tabuya was wrong in making the call.

He said Ms Tabuya “should have consulted Cabinet before creating a controversy on death penalty to deter drug criminals from Fiji.”

Cabinet to discuss Ms Tabuya’s call

Mr Rabuka told this masthead that the statement made by Ms Tabuya was “unfortunate because big issues like that should first be dealt with in Cabinet.”

Death penalty is illegal under the 2013 Constitution.

“I am hoping that the next Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (tomorrow), the acting Prime Minister will bring up the issue with the Minister who made the statement.”

This is not the first time Ms Tabuya has come under spotlight for the wrong reasons following allegations of illicit drug use and extramarital affair early this year.

Government ‘working towards  fighting Fiji’s drug problem’ 

Mr Rabuka was hosted by the Fijian community in Tonga on Saturday evening. In his address, Mr Rabuka said Government had been working towards fighting Fiji’s drug problem.

“We will know them, we will find them, and we will shut them down,” he said referring to those involved in the illicit drug trade.

He said there needed to be collective action in the fight against crimes in Fiji, especially drugs. He referenced Sabeto Village in Nadi that has restricted movement of people in and out of the village at night to curb the use of illicit drugs.