Professor Ahluwalia query review of Immigration Act
A proper freedom of Information Act for Fiji, if we are really going to, now that the media laws have been revived.
Questions were raised at the National Economic Summit about the possibility of reviewing the Immigration Act. University of the South Pacific vice-chancellor, professor Pal Ahluwalia queried the chair for governance and reform, Richard Naidu, during a thematic group presentation at the Grand Pacific Hotel, Suva.
Professor Ahluwalia while posing three questions to Mr Naidu said, one of the questions raised was a personal one.
Professor Ahluwalia in 2021 was deported with his wife.
The previous government claimed that they had breached Section 13 of the Immigration Act. “I was wondering if anything would be done to the Immigration Act to allow for judicial review where it’s appropriate,” Professor Ahluwalia said.
“I didn’t see anything, an entity like FICAC, whether they should really just be disbanded, they were so one-sided.”
Professor Ahluwalia also recommended that the Government consider proper freedom of information to be introduced.
“A proper freedom of Information Act for Fiji, if we are really going to, now that the media laws have been revived,” he said.
“If we have a proper freedom and Information Act, we might just have better accountability.”
While responding to questions raised, Mr Naidu said the laws in place were well protected.
“Immigration decisions, generally, under most country’s laws are generally recognised even by judges,” Mr Naidu said.
“As somewhat sovereign, so there’s less flexibility for the judicial system to address.
“But there’s actually nothing to prevent a bad process still being challenged by judicial review.
“Under the 2013 Constitution all laws, since 2006 and up until the end of 2014 are protected.
“They are protected from challenge, any decisions made under those laws, even if it doesn’t have to do with 2014, is immune from challenge,” Mr Naidu said.