Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has revealed that he will put a number of issues relating to unfair policies on the table when he meets the Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop later this week.
Bishop is coming to Fiji with the NZ Foreign Minister, Murray McCully and other members of the Pacific Islands Forum Ministerial Contact Group.
In a strong statement, Sayed-Khaiyum said travel sanctions are still in place and innocent people have been affected.
He said just by getting cocktail invites from Australia and New Zealand officials will not solve these problems.
Sayed-Khaiyum said members of Fiji’s judiciary are also banned from entering countries like Australia and questions are being raised by Australia, NZ and some NGO’s about how the judges in Fiji have been appointed.
He said in Australia and NZ, the judges’ appointments are recommended by their Attorney General.
It has been confirmed that as Australia’s first law officer, their Attorney-General is responsible for recommending all judicial appointments to the Australian Government.
In NZ, judicial appointments are made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Attorney-General.
Sayed-Khaiyum questions why criticisms are being leveled against the appointment process in Fiji as the constitution has set out a process where the Judicial Services Commission will appoint the judges.
The Attorney General said these matters have to be raised.
Sayed-Khaiyum said matters relating to double taxation also need to be addressed with Australia.
He said this is one sided towards Australia.
Fijivillage has received information that a tentative meeting has been arranged between the Forum Ministerial Contact Group and the Attorney General for this Friday.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
