Expats under spotlight

ALL expatriates recruited by the FijiFirst government and granted Fiji citizenship are under review, says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

“We will re-establish the cherished principle of localisation introduced when Fiji became independent in 1970,” Mr Rabuka said.

“This means that Fiji citizens will be appointed to Government positions whenever possible and on the basis they have the right qualifications.

“Mr (Voreqe) Bainimarama and Mr (Aiyaz) Sayed-Khaiyum reversed localisation.

“They brought in a number of expatriates, which naturally raised concerns.

“Some of these expatriate recruits have obtained citizenship since their recruitment.

“We will look carefully at the circumstances involved in those cases.”

Mr Rabuka said the coalition Government under his leadership was conducting itself according to the provisions of the 2013 Constitution.

“It seems to me, and my colleagues, that Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, the key figure in the preparation of the 2013 Constitution, was driven by a sense that FijiFirst would rule our nation forever.

“In fact, Mr Bainimarama said something similar fairly recently.

“The reality for our people’s coalition is that change has arrived and some FijiFirst party appointees remain in place in office.

“Where do their loyalties lie? How many of them will follow Mr Bainimarama’s call for them to remain in place?

“We will now be looking at achieving the appropriate context, within the law, for the operations of the COC (Constitutional Offices Commission), the Public Service Commission, the Judicial Service Commission, and the appointment of permanent secretaries.

“We do not want to take the drastic step of terminating incumbents, we do that according to law.

“We note that the Bainimarama government appointed or reappointed many permanent secretaries not long before the election.

“That was clearly inappropriate, disrespectful. Those appointments should have been left to the incoming Government.

“No ordinary government worker will lose his or her job.

“Those who will attract our scrutiny are the political appointees, especially those paid exorbitant salaries.”