AG queried over leadership of AFL, Biosecurity and Fiji Pine
The Attorney-General today told Parliament the statutory organisations and other semi-government organisations currently being managed by an Executive Chair are performing exceptionally.
The organisations with an Executive Chairman are:
- Airports (Fiji) Limited – Mr Faiz Khan
- Biosecurity Authority of Fiji – Mr Xavier Riyaz Khan
- Fiji Pine Limited – Mr Faiz Khan
- Fiji Sugar Corporation – Mr Abdul Khan
Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was responding to a parliamentary question by Opposition MP Hon. Aseri Radrodro.
RADRODRO: “Many statutory organisations and other semi-government organisations are being managed by the Executive Chairperson, organisations such as Fiji Sugar Corporation, Airports Fiji Limited, Fiji Pine Commission, Fiji Hardwood Corporation, Post Fiji Limited, Tourism Fiji and Biosecurity Authority of Fiji. Can the Minister explain why is Government taking so long putting in place proper Executive Management in these vital organisations?”
The AG gave a lengthy response in Parliament that the performance of these organisations had been exceptional under their respective leadership.
This prompted National Federation Party (NFP) MP Dr Biman Prasad to raise a point of order, urging the Speaker to instruct the AG to give a simpler response.
PRASAD: “I think the Minister is providing a lot of factual information…but the question is pretty simple…he should simply explain why these appointments are taking so long”
The Speaker allowed the AG to continue, saying “The question is a broad-based question, and would have a broad-based response.”
The AG concluded that most of these organisations have had the position of CEO advertised, and were looking to hire in due time.
SAYED-KHAIYUM: “And to answer the question, why is it taking so long, it is not taking so long.”
Opposition MP Hon. Jiosefa Dulakiverata thanked the AG for his “long and irrelevant explanation”.
DULAKIVERATA: “Can the honourable minister explain to the House what is his personal and professional acquaintance with these people before they were appointed”
The Speaker ruled that the AG did not have to answer the question.
The AG added the Opposition always looked for “some kind of controversy”.
SAYED-KHAIYUM: “Madam Speaker you see the problem with the Opposition, they always tend to personalise matters…They don’t even read the Annual Reports, they don’t even understand Finance…They need to read the statistics.”