NZ DPM Slams Pryde’s Email Action for Help

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says he is not happy with Fiji's suspended Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Christopher Pryde's approach to seek assistance from him.

In an exclusive interview, Mr Peters, also New Zealand's Foreign Minister, said Mr Pryde had copied multiple recipients in his email that was sent last Thursday.

They included High Commissioner of New Zealand High Commission to Fiji Charlotte Darlow, New Zealand Law Society president Frazer Barton, and Fiji Law Society president Wylie Clark.

Mr Pryde is a Kiwi and has been the DPP since 2011. Mr Peters was interviewed on the margins of the Tenth Pacific Leaders Meeting (PALMlO) in Tokyo, Japan, which ended on Thursday.

"He (Pryde) wrote to everybody and sent me a copy," Mr Peters said.

"He sent me a copy! He wrote me a letter and sent it to everybody else at the same time!

"What do you think about somebody that wrote to you - asking for help and then sent it to everybody else at the same time? What would you think?”

Mr Pryde had emailed Mr Peters in hopes of receiving assistance on how the Coalition Government had handled his suspension.

In this letter, Mr Pryde said Government’s action in unilaterally cutting off his salary at the four year mark of his current seven-year contract has now meant that he is unable to effectively defend himself against unwarranted charges that have now been outstanding for 15 months, with no date set yet for a hearing.

He claimed the manner in which the Government handled his case has implications beyond him and extends to other expatriate New Zealanders who may be considering taking up roles in the civil service or judiciary in Fiji.

“I have refrained from any public comment for the past 15 months trusting that the law in Fiji would take its course,” he said.

“But what has occurred is not only unlawful but is highly prejudicial to my own position.” Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka last Friday told the media in Parliament that Mr Pryde was still entitled to his salary, further revealing that he would consult with the Ministry of Public Service.

Mr Rabuka said that Mr Pryde is still legally entitled to his salaries until he was formally removed from office.

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