Opposition MP Premila Kumar has vehemently criticized the Coalition Government for its decision not to appeal a recent High Court ruling that declared the termination of Barbara Malimali unlawful. She characterized this choice as indicative of a profound incompetence within the current administration.
In her statement, Kumar claimed that this decision is “a tacit confession of incompetence,” pointing to failures at the highest levels of government. She specifically labeled the situation as an indictment of the Prime Minister, the Acting Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General, and the weakened advisory apparatus surrounding them.
Kumar articulated her belief that Fiji is being governed by leaders who neither comprehend nor respect the law, noting that legal missteps have become alarmingly commonplace under the current regime. “Court defeats are now routine. Legal humiliation is now normal. Taxpayer-funded damage control is now standard operating procedure,” she reflected.
She took issue with the Prime Minister’s inconsistencies, stating, “He speaks of the rule of law while trampling it. He invokes institutions while bypassing them. He promises stability while manufacturing chaos.” According to Kumar, ordinary Fijians are bearing the burden of what she describes as government dysfunction, facing consequences such as wasted litigation, exposure to compensation claims, and a stagnant state.
Kumar also criticized Cabinet ministers and assistant ministers, accusing them of merely existing to praise rather than advise and to shield failures instead of working to prevent them. “This is not governance,” she asserted. “It is political decay in real time. Fiji is not facing a policy problem. Fiji is facing a leadership collapse.”
The sentiments expressed by Kumar underscore a growing discontent among opposition leaders regarding the current government’s decisions and their implications for the nation’s legal and political integrity. As the situation develops, it remains imperative that the administration addresses these challenges effectively to restore public confidence and ensure accountable governance.