Page 10 - IB JAN 2019

Political Brief - FIJI

Catholic Church questions felt that he had to find other ways of approaching the issue,
thus the discernment process with Catholic education leaders.”
education ministry of civil disobedience was offered during the consultations he
The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Fiji said the option
held with senior church members and officials. These public
and non-violent protests could include an open air mass, and
By Netani Rika closure of the church’s 44 primary and 19 secondary schools
in the country.
FIJI’S Catholic Church will consider the closure of its schools and
public protests if it cannot successfully resolve an.impasse with • Other options offered included:
the Ministry of Education over the appointment of school heads. Taking an aggressive and urgent stand on the Church’s re-
But any form of civil disobedience will quest to consider faith as a merit when
be the final option for consideration only considering appointments of Heads of
if three other proposals fail. Schools
Archbishop of Suva Dr Peter Loy Continuing partnership with faith-
Chong and church leaders met Education based communities and work towards
Permanent Secretary Alison Burchell partnership with the government,
early this month following the appoint- strongly insisting on a structure of
ment of non-Catholics to head key consultation that would ensure trust
church schools. and respect for the management of the
After raising objections publicly, Arch- school. Heads of faith-based schools
bishop Chong proposed that meeting in “must be able to uphold the ethos and
an effort to find compromise. values of faith-based and community
After some heated discussions and owned schools”
the refusal of the Education Ministry Archbishop Peter Loy Chong Ph oto: Fiji Times Former opposition leader now shadow
to agree to common grounds, the Archbishop of Suva issued minister for education Ro Teimumu Kepa rallied in support of
a statement where he asked for support and prayers “in this Archbishop Chong, saying the Catholic Church has provided
process of continued discernment.” generations of Fiji’s children with a sound education equipping
“Since there were strong reactions in social and mainstream them for adult life and good citizenship.
media to the sudden appointments of non-Catholic principals to “The many allegations against the Church and the Arch-
Catholic schools, particularly to Xavier College and St. Thomas’ bishop are empty-headed and misconceived. There is nothing
High School, Archbishop Chong wrote a letter to the Minister for extremist, racist, or discriminatory about the Archbishop’s
Education, Hon. Rosy Akbar, requesting that the two Monfort articulation of the church’s preference for principals who are
Brothers remain in their positions. of the faith. That is a fair and reasonable position,” Hon Ro
“He did not a get a favourable answer to his request, and Teimumu said.

Opposition election case withdrawn “small business grants” scheme. The Fiji First government gave
away more than $4.4 million (USD2.07m) to more than 4,000
By Samisoni Pareti people in the three weeks before the election.
“Our petition also wanted to clarify the legal right of the Super-
THE country’s two main opposition parties were forced to with- visor of Elections to re-count (or partially re-count) the contents
draw their challenge of the November 2018 general elections last of 27 ballot boxes, and the process he followed to verify postal
December after 75 per cent of their witnesses were disallowed ballots.”
from taking the stand in the court of disputed returns. Not helping the opposition’s case was the 2013 constitution
“The Court would not allow us to call 6 of our proposed 8 provision that dictates that any electoral petition must be decided
witnesses. Without that evidence, most of our case could not in 21 days. So procedures have to be settled quickly.
be proved. We would then be going into court to lose, risking a “On the day we filed the Petition, we sought directions from
substantial order for costs,” parliamentary leaders of SODELPA, the court. As we know, the process was famously delayed by the
Sitiveni Rabuka and the National Federation Party Dr Biman 48-hour Fiji First Party “strategic workshop” when all Fiji First
Prasad said in a joint statement released following the dramatic Party MPs avoided service of our petition.
turnaround in their challenge on 21 December. “When they finally came to Court, the Fiji First Party argued
“The Electoral Act permits the Chief Justice to make rules for that an electoral petition must be supported by affidavits (sworn
how the Court of Disputed Returns will operate. Two general statements). Our lawyers pointed out to the court that this was
elections have now taken place without any rules. not a requirement of the Electoral Act.
“Where there are no rules, the High Court Rules must be fol- “The Court ruled that only certain witnesses were allowed to
lowed. But those rules are not clear for electoral petitions. This give oral evidence. Based on our legal advice, we respectfully
is what led to (the court)’s ruling.” disagree with that ruling and the reasons for it.
Without disclosing details, the two party leaders said their “Unfortunately, the law gives us no right of appeal.”
legal petition had claimed breaches of the Electoral Act by some In granting leave for the opposition to withdraw their electoral
of the ruling members of the Fiji First Party.This included specific petition, the two presiding judges ordered the plaintiffs to pay
instances of campaigning in breach of the Electoral Act, they said. FJD14500 (USD6826) to eight Fiji First Party candidates and the
“We also wanted the court to rule on the legality of the so-called Supervisor of Elections.

10 Islands Business, January 2019