14 Nov 2014

Fiji whip expects PAC to meet next week

4:05 pm on 14 November 2014

The chief whip in the Fiji government, Semi Koroilavesau, says he hopes the Public Accounts Committee will be able to meet next week.

He says this week's planned first meeting was called off by a parliamentary official after government members raised concerns over remarks by the opposition's intended chair, Dr Biman Prasad.

They are critical of him speaking publicly on the auditor general's reports, which they say he has been doing from his position on the PAC.

Mr Koroilavesau says their concerns are procedural and under standing orders the opposition leader has jumped the gun.

"The opposition leader has pre-empted the final process by publicly endorsing Dr Prasad as the proposed chairperson. The committee is actually the one that will confirm him to that position."

Fiji's Speaker of Parliament, Dr Jiko Luveni

Fiji's Speaker, Dr Jiko Luveni Photo: Fiji Department of Information

Semi Koroilavesau says the matter is to be decided by the Speaker Dr Jiko Luveni who returns from Indonesia over the weekend.

The opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has confirmed support for Dr Prasad as chair of the PAC - the only parliamentary committee under the constitution that is to be chaired by an opposition MP.

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