We have to wait, there is no need to rush: PM on President's decision

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says there is no rush for the President to act on the Judicial Service Commission’s (JSC) recommendation to remove Lavi Rokoika as acting Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) commissioner.

Pressed on whether the President should act swiftly on the JSC advice, Mr Rabuka said that was not his job to do.

“No, that’s not part of my role. That is between the chair of the JSC and the President. And they can discuss it. 

“JSC has decided, I think, and they should leave it to the President to make his own decision in response to that. There’s no need to rush. There is no time imperative. So, we just have to wait.”

Lawyers Richard Naidu and Graham Leung have pressed the President to act on the JSC’s recommendation. 

They cite section 82 of the Constitution, stating: “The President acts only on advice. He does not make choices. He does not exercise discretion. And he certainly does not bargain with constitutional bodies who require him to act as the law requires. If he is being advised otherwise, he is being wrongly advised.”