16 Aug 2005

Get priorities right, Fiji judge tells authorities

8:28 am on 16 August 2005

A Fiji High Court judge has called on people in high places in the country to get their priorities right.

Lautoka judge, Justice John Connors, says it is extremely disappointing that those in authority appear to see personal or political point scoring as more important than addressing the very serious social issues affecting the future of Fiji.

Justice Connors made the comment after his Lautoka home had been burgled for the fourth time since last year.

Expressing his disappointment in the High Court, Justice Connors said while he and his wife are angry at what keeps happening to them, they feel for the country when conduct of this type is so prevalent and keeps increasing at an apparently rapid rate.

He said law and order and the maintenance of the rule of law are central to the economic survival of the country and, in particular, the development of tourism.

Justice Connors said unless there is an attitudinal change at the highest levels, there is little chance of any improvement in the future.

He says the matter should be raised with the chief justice, Daniel Fatiaki, and the police commissioner, Andrew Hughes.