11 May 2004

Fiji's Supreme Court due to begin hearing cabinet case today

10:20 am on 11 May 2004

Fiji's Supreme Court will begin hearing a case today in which the Labour Party claims that it is entitled to 17 seats in a multi-party cabinet.

Following a Supreme Court order in July last year, the prime minister offered Labour 14 seats in an expanded 36 member cabinet.

But Labour claims that it is entitled to 17 seats and also claims that the portfolios offered are minor and not in keeping with its parliamentary strength.

Fiji's chief justice, Daniel Fatiaki, and a panel of four senior overseas judges will begin hearing the case in Suva today.

Labour has engaged a well-known Australian constitutional lawyer, Professor George Williams, to argue its case assisted by local counsel.

The government has hired an Australian Queen's Counsel, Stephen Gagler, to head its legal team