Pryde returns to office with full benefits restored

For more than two years, Christopher Pryde kept his mantra - "Keep Calm and Carry On".

Yesterday, Mr Pryde was reinstat­ed as Fiji's Director of Public Pros­ecutions (DPP) following a suspen­sion that raised national attention.

The Fiji Government confirmed the decision in a 'Facebook' state­ment at 6.21pm yesterday.

Mr Pryde was suspended on April 13, 2023, by then-President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere under section 112(4) of the 2013 Constitution.

The suspension followed his prolonged conversation with former Attor­ney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khai­yum at a social function hosted by the Japanese Ambassador on Feb­ruary 28, 2023.

A three-member tribunal was later appointed to investigate the matter. President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu received the tribunal's report and subsequently wrote to Mr Pryde about resuming his du­ties in an orderly manner.

The President's directives include:

■ Reinstating the 4th September 2019 Agreement of Service with immediate effect.

■ Repaying Mr Pryde's unpaid salary and benefits without delay.

■ Requiring Mr Pryde to report to the Judicial Services Commission, where he will receive official prop­erties, including his laptop, mobile phone, and office keys, and be es­corted to the Office of the DPP. The Government's move high­lights a resolution to one of Fiji's high-profile legal disputes. Mr Pryde has yet to responded to re­quests for comment.

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