PM Rabuka backs Turaga as ‘qualified’ for A-G role

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Siromi Turaga is qualified to hold the Attorney-General’s post.

Speaking in Nadi yesterday, Mr Rabuka said the Minister for Justice had made sacrifices to contest the last General Election and had volunteered to be a People’s Alliance candidate.

“At the moment, he is qualified; he is the only one who put up his hand to the PA candidate in the last election. Why should we go outside?” Mr Rabuka said.

“These are people who had volunteered, used their own money to stand for election. The basic principle of those who wanted to serve, they put their hands up to stand for election, and he has been appointed as acting and the substantive of the post is my prerogative,” he said.

Mr Turaga has been acting Attorney-General following the dismissal of Graham Leung by the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Ketan Lal has sparked debate by recommending the appointment of former AG Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum previously served as Attorney-General and Minister for Justice under the former FijiFirst government.

Mr Lal said no one could deny that Mr Sayed-Khaiyum “understood the machinery of Government better than any other sitting minister”.

“What is really stopping PM Rabuka from appointing Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum as the Attorney-General?”

“Let us be honest, love him or hate him, he was the most qualified, competent, and visionary AG Fiji has ever had,” Mr Lal said.