Cases a Waste of Time: PM
the job to work on the economy now,” the PM said.
“After the petitions have been withdrawn, I am sure the respondents are at ease now.
“Big burden lifted off their shoulders. It is a wild pot shot in the dark by the Opposition.
“I thank our lawyers for doing their best and very professionally done. I also want to thank the lawyer for the Opposition, Filimoni Vosarogo, who withdrew the petition because that was the best thing to do.
“We can now continue with the Government, the Governance of the nation.” Attorney-General Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum said they would focus on the economy and get the business of governing going.
“We have to make sure that the economy continues to grow,” he said.
“International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently said we have nine years of growth. There’s third party validation on the fact of what we have been saying for the past number of years.
“Good structures are in place and we have challenges given on what is happening globally.
“We as a country need to come together to ensure that we grow jobs, we have sustainability of jobs. We need to address all the infrastructure issues, connecting people with water, roads, electricity, finding more opportunities for all Fijians irrespective of where they live. That is the focus of the Government and indeed and unfortunately the Opposition has been absent from that space.
“I would like to thank the FijiFirst supporters for their perseverance, support and gratitude,” Mr SayedKhaiyum said.
The case:
SODELPA and the National Federation Party (NFP) had challenged the conduct, count and tallying of the results of the 2018 General Election.
The matter was called before the Court of Disputed Returns judges, Justice Anjala Wati and Justice Kamal Kumar, yesterday. Lawyers representing SODELPA’s Sitiveni Rabuka and NFP leader Biman Prasad were Jon Apted from Munro Leys, Filimoni Vosarogo from Mamlakha Lawyers and Semi Valenitabua from Toganivalu and Valenitabua lawyers. Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma represented the Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem while Devanesh Sharma represented all 27 FijiFirst Members of Parliament, FijiFirst candidate Faiyaz Koya and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Lawyers representing Unity Fiji’s general secretary Satish Kumar was Jolame Uludole while Solicitor General Mr Sharma represented Mr Saneem. Devanesh represented two FijiFirst Members of the Parliament, FijiFirst candidate Mr Koya and the Attorney-General. Jone Davukula represented himself while the Solicitor General Mr Sharma represented Mr Saneem while Mr Devanesh represented the Prime Minister, the AttorneyGeneral and FijiFirst candidate Mr Koya.
Nilesh Prasad represented the Electoral Commission in all three cases.