I Will Not Resign, Won’t Attend Tribunal, Says Suspended DPP

Suspended Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde has indicated that he will neither resign nor attend the tribunal hearing initially set up to address the essence of his suspension.

The tribunal is scheduled to convene on Monday, December 2.

Mr Pryde’s justification stems from what he describes as an ‘unfair’ suspension of his salaries which hindered his ability to pay for legal representative.

“I refer to the tribunal’s correspondence to me dated 21st November 2024,” Mr Pryde said.

“The letter refers to the need for the Tribunal to be just and fair yet how can a hearing be just and fair when I have been deprived of the means to adequately defend myself?

“The continuation of a hearing under these circumstances is a clear violation of the President’s mandate to the tribunal to be just and fair.

“I am advised that it is also a violation of relevant International Labour Organisation conventions which Fiji is a party to and has ratified”

Distasteful 

Mr Pryde criticised Acting Chief Justice and chairperson of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) Salesi Temo and JSC for endorsing the suspension of his salary in July.

“The acting Chief Justice’s actions, and those of the JSC, amount to an interference in the tribunal proceedings and are a contempt,” he said.

“I note the Prime Minister (Sitiveni Rabuka) has also spoken publicly in support of my claim to have my salary reinstated and any fair-minded layperson would agree.”

‘I will not be intimidated’

Mr Pryde said he will not be intimidated by the JSC into resigning from his office as Director of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Pryde reiterated that he will not be ‘bullied’ into participating in a hearing without the ability to adequately defend himself.

“It is axiomatic that I should have the right to adequately defend myself before the tribunal and it is a clear breach of natural justice to deny me this right.

“If the salary and entitlements under my contract, which remains in force, are reinstated, I am ready to reinstruct my legal counsel and proceed with the matter.

“My position therefore remains that until my salary has been restored to allow me to adequately defend myself, I am, regrettably, unable to attend or participate in the hearing on 2nd December 2024.”

The chairperson of JSC, Mr Temo, while providing an update for this tribunal told reporters at the ODPP’s annual prosecution conference at Shangri-La Yanuca Island that; “Proceeding is about to start in December, and I can’t talk about it because it’s before a tribunal, I can’t comment.”

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