10 Jan 2007

Fiji's legal fraternity endorses rule of law

7:10 pm on 10 January 2007

Fiji's interim Attorney General and the Fiji Law Society say that upholding the rule of law and the constitution are of paramount importance.

Fijilive reports the Law Society president Devanesh Sharma and interim Attorney General and Justice Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum met to discuss issues of concern and have agreed that the judicial system must remain independent.

Mr Sharma says he believes the coup was illegal and a solution is needed to break the coup culture.

Meanwhile the Public Enterprises chief executive Parmesh Chand has reportedly taken up his new appointment as CEO to Fiji's interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Fijilive reports that this is the first of the expected reshuffles of CEOs by the interim government and that Mr Chand moved into his new office this morning.

A military appointed committee, chaired by Mr Chand, will present a paper to Fiji's interim cabinet on its investigations into the closure of the Vatukoula Gold Mine.

Armed Fijian troops have taken over the failed gold Vatukoula mine after some 1600 local workers were sacked.

Emperor Mines, which owns the mine in Fiji's west, said armed troops arrived at the site over the weekend, demanding keys and access to the mine site.