28 May 2008

Karavaki says new Fiji election supervisor not constitutionally appointed

1:36 pm on 28 May 2008

Fiji's former Supervisor of Elections, Semesa Karavaki, says the appointment of a new Supervisor of Election is unconstitutional as he continues to be the legal holder of the post.

He says the processes involved in appointing the new Elections Supervisor are unconstitutional, as he was removed illegally.

Mr Karavaki made the comment to Radio Fiji a day after the Constitutional Offices Commission appointed a New Zealand lawyer, Felicity Heffernan, to the position.

He says he was removed by the commander of the Fiji Military Forces although Commodore Frank Bainimarama had no constitutional power to do so.

Mr Karavaki also says the President acted outside the constitution when he gazetted his removal.

Mr Karavaki supervised the 2006 election which international observers validated as free and fair.