The Fiji Labour Party is now calling on the Prime Minister to move the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad to the backbenchers.
This is in light of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption charges that Prof Prasad faces for filing false statutory declarations with the Registrar of Political Parties.
In a statement, FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said it is only proper that he is also replaced as the Head of the Fiji Delegation to COP 29 in Azerbaijan in November, in light of the pending charges.
“The Prime Minister had already said in a statement published and broadcast in the news media on Sept 8 that he would not hesitate to demote Biman to the back bench if he were charged by FICAC.”
“It is now well known that on 5 September Biman was charged by FICAC with multiple counts for breaching the Political Parties Act, and was to be produced in Court,” Chaudhry said.
The former Prime Minister said this averted by the events surrounding the rushed appointment of Barbara Malimali as Commissioner FICAC, on the same day.
Chaudhry said Malimali’s appointment was a political move to stop Prof Prasad from being charged and arrested.
He said the coincidence is too startling to be ignored.
“Revelations made since have prompted the Prime Minister to announce that… “a Board of Inquiry would soon be appointed to put to rest the air of distrust surrounding the appointment of Ms Malimali.”
Chaudhry said: “The Prime Minister added there were too many questions surrounding Ms Malimali’s resignation from the Electoral Commission and her appointment as Commissioner (FICAC) and a proper investigation was warranted to ensure the integrity of the process.”
“The Prime Minister also said he agreed with Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry that Malimali should step aside when an inquiry into her appointment is conducted.”
Chaudhry said FLP is now waiting for the Prime Minister to act on the matter. He added that delays in instituting the proposed inquiry would further sap confidence in FICAC as an independent institution.