22 Dec 2008

Call for next elected Fiji Government to enquire into controversial chief justice appointment

8:43 pm on 22 December 2008

Fiji's ousted opposition leader Mick Beddoes says the appointment of the new chief justice is unconstitutional.

The former acting chief justice Anthony Gates has been appointed chief justice, replacing Daniel Fatiaki.

Under Fiji's constitution, an elected prime minister chooses a chief justice after consulting with the opposition.

He then makes his recommendation to the president, who makes the appointment.

Mick Beddoes says the appointment of Mr Gates didn't comply with this requirement and is therefore unlawful.

"The Attorney General says that the recent court ruling has given the president the powers and in that ruling there's no opposition leader but in order for that to occur, there would have been a need to change the constitution, because the court also ruled that the constitution remains in place."

Mick Beddoes says there should be an inquiry into the appointment once elections have been held and a parliament is chosen.