Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is scheduled to meet with the President today, following Cabinet discussions related to a recent High Court ruling on the dismissal of former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali. This development comes after Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya confirmed that the Solicitor-General provided advice regarding the implications of the High Court’s decision and the legal options that are now available to the Prime Minister.
The High Court determined that Malimali’s removal was unlawful; however, it did not order her reinstatement or grant any damages, leaving those matters to be resolved by the Judicial Services Commission. Minister Tabuya declared respect for the High Court’s ruling, affirming, “We respect the decision of the High Court. And of course, we will be able to access what is legally available to the Honorable Prime Minister in terms of the appeal process. The appeal process is going to take some time.” She pointed out that the Prime Minister has a period of up to 41 days to decide whether to challenge the ruling.
Furthermore, the Cabinet reiterated its dedication to upholding the rule of law and stressed the importance of maintaining the separation of powers. They underscored that the Judicial Services Commission operates independently of the Executive branch, which will allow it to assess the situation in its own timeframe. The government remains committed to following the appropriate legal pathways and waiting for the Judicial Services Commission’s decisions before taking any further actions.
This scenario underscores the intricacies involved in legal governance, while also providing a glimmer of optimism that the rule of law will prevail, thereby enhancing public trust in the judicial system and its mechanisms.