Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere decided to decline Rabuka's nomination of him to serve a second term of three years as President of Fiji after he saw an internal audit and investigation report.
We had asked Rabuka on whether he had met Ratu Wiliame in Auckland last week and advised him that he was withdrawing Ratu Wiliame's nomination, and for him to formally withdraw.
fijivillage News has gathered that Rabuka met with Ratu Wiliame for about 10 minutes in a meeting room at a hotel in Auckland.
We also asked Rabuka how did Ratu Naiqama's name come in as a nomination for President.
While responding to our questions, Rabuka said he informed Ratu Wiliame Katonivere that an Internal Audit and an Internal Investigation Report was reported to him by the Board Chairperson of three Government Companies Ratu Wiliame had served on.
Rabuka says these were then subjected to forensic reexamination and to the Attorney General for advice on whether to prosecute or not.
He says it was then that Ratu Wiliame felt he should decline the Prime Minister's nomination of him.
Rabuka says after that, he called Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, who has served Fiji well in his various careers as well as in his role as the paramount chief of Cakaudrove, considering his position in the conventional National Order of Precedence, if he would accept Rabuka's nomination.
He says having secured that, he informed Cabinet and his Party Leadership and Caucus on Tuesday.
We have asked what is the next step regarding the internal audit and internal investigation report. He is yet to respond.
Parliamentary Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu Na Gone Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau, has been formally endorsed by the Parliamentary Caucus of the People’s Alliance for nomination to the Presidency, after the current President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere withdrew his name from nomination for a second term.
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka says the provisions of the Constitution that allowed Mahendra Chaudhry to stand for elections under Section 56(2)(g) are similar to that which allows Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu to be nominated for President under 83(1)(e).
That is Rabuka’s reply to fijivillage News regarding concerns raised by Chaudhry about the People’s Alliance decision to nominate Ratu Naiqama as the next President.
Section 56(2)(g) of the 2013 Constitution states that a person may be a candidate for election to Parliament only if the person has not, at any time during the 8 years immediately before being nominated, been convicted of any offence under any law for which the maximum penalty is a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more.
Section 83 (1)(e) states a person shall not be qualified to be nominated for the office of the President unless he or she has not, at any time during the 6 years immediately before being nominated, been convicted of any offence under any law.
Chaudhry had said a person with Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu’s record cannot be accepted as the country’s President, and Rabuka has come under strong criticism for what looks like blatant bias in appointing people from his own province of Cakaudrove to positions of high authority.
He says the Office of President must be held by a person of unquestionable integrity, widely acceptable to all communities.
Chaudhry says the President must be seen as a symbol of unity.
He says Rabuka’s nominee for President meets none of this criteria.
Chaudhry says Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has a questionable political record, he is a known ethno-nationalist who was seen closely collaborating with the George Speight group and engaging in treasonable activities in 2000, he was convicted for participating in an “unlawful assembly” at the Sukanaivalu Barracks at the height of the 2000 coup and on 4th April 2005 was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment.
Questions are still being raised on why the dramatic twist of events as President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere had confirmed to many people that he was up for re-election for another 3 years.
Rabuka had maintained that he would back Ratu Wiliame, and was ready to nominate Ratu Wiliame’s name in early October.
However he revealed later that there was some discomfort on some of the nominees for the country’s President, and that is why he withdrew his nominee for the election of the President that morning.
Rabuka confirmed that the issue of the discomfort on some of the nominees was brought to his attention by the Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu before the sitting so the Prime Minister asked if he could withdraw the nomination.
Under the Constitution, the Speaker has no powers to question a nomination.
Section 84(2) states that whenever a vacancy arises in the office of the President, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition shall nominate one name each to the Speaker who shall put both the names to the floor of Parliament for voting by the members of Parliament.
The person who receives the support of the majority of the members of Parliament present shall be appointed as the President, and the Speaker shall publicly announce the name of the President.
We have sent further questions to Rabuka. He is yet to respond.
The election of the President will take place in parliament next Thursday.
A person with Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu’s record cannot be accepted as the country’s President, and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has come under strong criticism for what looks like blatant bias in appointing people from his own province of Cakaudrove to positions of high authority.
Those are the comments of Fiji Labour Party Leader and former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry as he says the Office of President must be held by a person of unquestionable integrity, widely acceptable to all communities.
Chaudhry says the President must be seen as a symbol of unity.
He says Rabuka’s nominee for President meets none of this criteria.
Chaudhry says Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has a questionable political record, he is a known ethno-nationalist who was seen closely collaborating with the George Speight group and engaging in treasonable activities in 2000, he was convicted for participating in an “unlawful assembly” at the Sukanaivalu Barracks at the height of the 2000 coup and on 4th April 2005 was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment.
The FLP Leader says while sentencing him, Labasa Magistrate Sunil Kumar said Ratu Naiqama “had played a role in influencing the rebel soldiers to act criminally” when as a high chief he should have provided proper guidance.
Chaudhry says Ratu Naiqama later joined the Conservative Alliance Matanitu Vanua party well known for its ultra nationalist stance. He adds as a parliamentarian, his membership was suspended for two years in May 2015 after he was found guilty of making “scurrilous” remarks about the then Speaker Jiko Luveni.
The FLP Leader says recently, Ratu Naiqama was widely criticised for his ‘racist’ remarks against Opposition Member Aliki Bia when he castigated the Melanesian community.
Chaudhry says Rabuka’s handling of the names of nominees for the presidency has also raised questions.
He says it is not clear whether he is the Coalition’s or People’s Alliance nominee.
Chaudhry says SODELPA and NFP have not made their position clear on Ratu Naiqama’s nomination. The FLP Leader says for someone who is forever mouthing rhetoric on national unity, it seems strange that the Prime Minister should openly embrace parochial politics instead of attempting to unify the nation.
We are awaiting a response by the Prime Minister.
The nomination of Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu to be the President of Fiji must be immediately withdrawn as he will not unite the nation but strengthen hierarchy, patriarchy and gross inequality.
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator, Shamima Ali highlighted this in an interview with fijivillage News and says the position of President must not be for the “boys and wrongdoers” and we can’t continue to reward coup perpetrators.
She says Ratu Naiqama has shown people time and time again that he is a misogynist and was also once suspended from Parliament for 2 years for making extremely derogatory comments against the late and former Speaker of the House, Dr Jiko Luveni and recently made racial comments.
Ali is asking where is the social cohesion that this government proclaims to stand for.
She further says the President needs to meet the moral and ethical standards of a leader we can be proud of.
FWCC is also very concerned about discussions that those nominated to be President need to be chiefs or from a particular confederacy or province.
The Coordinator adds that the will of the Fijian people must be reflected in the appointment and election of the President.
Parliamentary Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu Na Gone Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau, has been formally endorsed by the Parliamentary Caucus of the People’s Alliance for nomination to the Presidency, after the current President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere withdrew his name from nomination for a second term.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says that on 17th October 2024, he wrote to Ratu Wiliame seeking his approval and consent to be nominated for a second term as President and Head of State under section 84(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji.
He says on Monday 21st October 2024, he received formal communication from Ratu Wiliame, wherein he withdrew his name from nomination for a second term.
In paying tribute to Ratu Wiliame,Rabuka acknowledged his service to the nation as our President and said that he has conducted his duties as Head of State with integrity and forbearance.
Rabuka says Ratu Wiliame ensured a smooth transition in Government following the December 2022 general election where he showed diligence in ensuring respect for the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji despite those who sought to sway his resolve in upholding the law.
He says his term in office has been marked by unprecedented freedom for the people of Fiji and he has symbolized the unity and integrity of the State at home and abroad.
Ratu Naiqama has formally consented to be nominated for the Presidency as Rabuka will move his name under section 84(2) of the Constitution at the special sitting of Parliament on Thursday 31st October 2024.
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