Speaker rules that AG did not mislead or bring disrepute to parliament

Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau has ruled that he will not refer a matter raised about Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to the Privileges Committee.

Opposition Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka had raised the matter with Ratu Epeli.

Rabuka had alleged that Sayed-Khaiyum had misled and brought dishonor and disrepute to Parliament on 1st April and 13th May 2019 while responding to a question and a supplementary question respectively which were both asked by the Opposition Leader regarding the waiver of tender processes.

In his question on Tuesday, Rabuka had asked Sayed-Khaiyum why the waiver of tender for the Government Tenders Board was not applied when the opposition wanted their office renovated.

Rabuka had said that his question is clear and he wants to know why the tenders were not waived as the opposition office is very crowded. He says he was told that the tenders would be advertised and they are still waiting.

In his response, Sayed‑Khaiyum had said that it is rather baffling because the regulations state that emergency purchases shall only be considered where there is an extreme urgency brought in by unforeseeable events. A procuring ministry or department can engage in emergency procurement in the event of a natural disaster such as a cyclone, flood, earthquake, tsunami, whirlwind, landslide, forest fire or drought, in life or death situations, in the event of an outbreak of diseases in humans, plants or animals or where there is an urgent need for goods, services or civil works and engaging in tender proceedings would be impractical.

In his ruling this morning, Ratu Epeli says there is no evidence that Sayed-Khaiyum deliberately misled or brought dishonor and disrepute to Parliament.

He adds that there is also no breach of privilege.

Ratu Epeli says that it is clear that neither of the statements quoted by Rabuka are false or misleading and there is no law in any jurisdiction which allows a Minister to waive subsidiary laws and this is clearly what Sayed-Khaiyum was talking about.

Parliament has been adjourned till 7.30pm on the 7th of next month.

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