8 Jan 2007

Fiji's new interim minister for justice hopes to make a difference

4:15 pm on 8 January 2007

Fiji's new interim Minister for Justice, Electoral Reform and Anti Corruption, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says he hopes to make a difference in his new role.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, who is also Attorney General, says the interim government will be guided by the mandate given by the President.

He says after all ministers are sworn in, electoral systems will need to be put into place for new elections - including conducting a census.

"I think we are at a very important juncture in our history. We have an opportunity I think to try and fix up things. And as a lawyer, I'm obviously concerned about the legal aspects of it. Im an officer of the court first, and for me the first and foremost is the upholding of the constution and for me I think we have to get back to a true democratic parliamentary election."

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum who is new to politics, says he's taken a huge pay cut to take on the job.