The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Christopher Pryde, continues to face challenges as he has not received his salary and entitlements despite a directive from the President for immediate payment. The delay is attributed to the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), which has also failed to reimburse his legal costs related to a lengthy tribunal process.
In a statement, Mr. Pryde noted that he had submitted invoices from AK Lawyers for legal services accrued over 21 months while defending himself during the tribunal. He cited that, typically in civil proceedings, the successful party would expect reimbursement of legal costs from the opposing party—in this case, the Minister for Justice, Mr. Siromi Turaga.
While Mr. Pryde delegated his authority to Assistant DPP Pauline Madanavosa to ensure the office continued functioning during his leave, he expressed surprise that the JSC appointed Nancy Tikoisuva as Acting DPP without informing him. He criticized this unilateral decision, asserting that it has disrupted operations within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
Pryde raised additional concerns regarding the appointment of Deputy DPP John Rabuku, who was initially thought to oversee the ODPP in his absence but was ruled ineligible by the Supreme Court.
The ongoing issue has left Mr. Pryde questioning the appropriateness of the current leadership decisions and has led to uncertainty about the potential impact on the ODPP’s function.
Despite these challenges, it is hopeful that clarity might emerge soon as Mr. Pryde continues to advocate for his rights. The JSC has yet to respond to his requests for clarity about his entitlements and the decisions made regarding his position. As this matter unfolds, it will be vital to monitor how the JSC handles the situation moving forward.
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