Rabuka: Resign or be removed

Board members of government companies and statutory bodies will be forcefully removed if they do not resign voluntarily.

The ultimatum was made by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka yesterday to remaining members of other boards after all members of the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) resigned on Wednesday.

FBC is one of 22 government companies and statutory bodies listed in the advertisement by the Office of the Prime Minister calling for expression of interests to serve as board directors.

The companies are: Airports Fiji Pte Ltd, FBC, Fiji Hardwood Corporation Pte Ltd, Fiji Meat Industry Board, Fiji Public Trustee Corporation Pte Ltd, Fiji Rice Pte Ltd, Food Processors (Fiji) Pte Ltd, Post Fiji Pte Ltd, Unit Trust of Fiji (Management) Ltd, Yaqara Pastoral Company Pte Ltd, Fiji Coconut Millers Pte Ltd, Pacific Fishing Company Pte Ltd, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji,

Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji, Fiji Roads Authority, Housing Authority, Public Rental Board, Investment Fiji Board, Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, Tourism Fiji, Water Authority of Fiji and Land Transport Authority.

Mr Rabuka said he wanted all board members to resign or else they would use the terms of their contracts to remove them.

When questioned on who would replace the board members now that their positions were vacant, he said the process of replacing them would be done quickly.

“Those who do not resign will be removed. The replacement board members will be selected very soon. They do not sit every day. The affairs of the enterprise are managed by the managers.”

He said names of the new board member nominees would go through the Permanent Secretary of Public Enterprise before it is presented to him as recommendations.