19 Dec 2014

Fiji information minister in 'mother of all conflicts' - opposition

7:12 pm on 19 December 2014

The Fiji opposition chief whip Ratu Isoa Tikoca has called on the Prime Minister to act on what he calls a mother of all conflicts involving a senior minister.

Ratu Isoa says Frank Bainimarama should tell Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to step down as information minister or ask him to terminate the position of his brother as Chief Executive of the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.

He says the continuing conflict of interest involving the Sayed-Khaiyums is intolerable and against all the rules of good governance.

Ratu Isoa questions where else can a government minister have cabinet responsibility for a portfolio that included his brother as CEO of a major public enterprise.

He says it cannot be allowed to continue.

The opposition whip says the prime minister should remember that a former prime minister Laisenia Qarase was sent to jail for a year for an alleged conflict of interest nearly 20 years ago.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji's Attorney-General

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji's Attorney-General Photo: RNZ / Republika