Opposition MP says Govt decision is a ‘confession of incompetence’

Opposition Memeber of Parliament Premila Kumar has accused the Coalition Government of incompetence following its decision not to appeal the High Court ruling that declared the termination of Barbara Malimali unlawful.

“The Coalition Government’s decision not to appeal the High Court ruling that declared the termination of Barbara Malimali unlawful is a tacit confession of incompetence," Mrs Kumar said.

She said the decision amounted to a failure at the highest levels of government.
“It is an indictment of the Prime Minister, the Acting Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General, and the hollowed-out advisory machinery around them.”

Ms Kumar claimed the Government lacked both legal understanding and respect for the law.
“Fiji is now being governed by people who neither understand the law nor respect it.”

Ms Kumar said the situation was systemic rather than accidental.
“This is not accidental. It is systemic. Court defeats are now routine. Legal humiliation is now normal. Taxpayer-funded damage control is now standard operating procedure.”

She accused the Prime Minister of inconsistency and hypocrisy.
“The Prime Minister’s only consistency is contradiction. He speaks of rule of law while trampling it, he invokes institutions while bypassing them. He promises stability while manufacturing chaos.”

Ms Kumar said ordinary Fijians were paying the price.
“Fijians are forced to bankroll this dysfunction. They pay through wasted litigation. They pay through exposure to compensation claims. They pay through a paralysed state.”

She warned that without accountability, unlawful conduct would continue.
“And until this government is held accountable, illegality will continue to masquerade as authority, and failure will continue to be repackaged as leadership.”

The Government has previously said its decision not to appeal the ruling was made after obtaining legal advice and in respect of the constitutional role of the Judicial Services Commission.