27 Oct 2015

Fiji opposition defends official trip to north

3:05 pm on 27 October 2015
The leader of Fiji's main opposition party, Ro Teimumu Kepa.

The leader of Fiji's main opposition party, Ro Teimumu Kepa. Photo: RNZ / Sally Round

The spokesperson for the Fiji opposition Sodelpa party says the country's Attorney-General is talking nonsense when criticising the leader of the opposition for her trips.

Ro Teimumu Kepa toured Vanua Levu and Taveuni last week in her role as the leader of the opposition, but civil servants in the north were instructed by the government not to speak to her.

Mick Beddoes says the opposition leader is obliged to keep the Government in check and it's 'utter rubbish' that MPs need to seek permission from the Parliament before seeking to meet officials anywhere.

"He's talking nonsense and he's supposed to be the chief legal advisor to the government? Utter nonsense. Does the government ministers apply to parliament to get permission to go on their jaunts? No one has to come to parliament and get permission, how absurd is that? The leader of the opposition, only the leader of the opposition, if she wants to make an official tour, has to come to the Parliament and seek their approval? What utter rubbish."

Mick Beddoes says the government's view is undemocratic and it's an un-Fijian way of behaving.