MP Kumar questions Government’s commitment to rule of law

Are we strengthening the rule of law or the rule of individuals?

Independent Member of Parliament Premila Kumar posed that question in Parliament today as she raised concerns about what she described as troubling signs regarding the independence of key institutions.

Responding to the President’s address, Ms Kumar said the true test of commitment to the rule of law lies not in speeches but in actions.

“The real measure of respect for the rule of law is not found in well-crafted speeches. It is found in the conduct of those who exercise power.”

She told Parliament that recent developments had raised serious questions about the Government’s commitment to those principles.

“And when we look carefully at the actions of this Government over the past three years, the picture that emerges is troubling.”

Ms Kumar pointed to the dismissal of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner as an example.

“We saw the unlawful dismissal of the Commissioner of FICAC, a decision that the High Court later ruled was made without constitutional authority by the Prime Minister.”

She also questioned the outcomes of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) initiated by the Prime Minister.

“Millions of dollars of public funds were spent. Yet the country is left asking a very simple question: what exactly has been achieved?”

Ms Kumar said repeated incidents involving independent institutions should not be dismissed as administrative mistakes.

“When such incidents keep occurring, they cannot be dismissed as mere administrative mistakes. They begin to reveal a pattern, a pattern that raises serious doubts about this Government’s commitment to the rule of law.”

She warned that interference in independent institutions could weaken democratic governance.

“When the executive begins to intrude into independent bodies, and when rules appear to shift depending on who is in power, it raises a fundamental question about the direction our democracy is taking.”

“Are we strengthening the rule of law, or are we slowly drifting toward the rule of individuals?”

Ms Kumar said respect for the rule of law must apply equally to everyone, including those in leadership.

“If we are serious about protecting our democracy, then respect for the rule of law cannot be selective. It must be constant, principled, and applied equally, especially to those who hold the highest offices of power.”