Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who also chairs the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC), has addressed rumors regarding the resignation of Barbara Malimali from her position as chair of the Electoral Commission of Fiji. In a statement, the Prime Minister confirmed that he received notification from the COC secretariat about Malimali’s resignation on Saturday, roughly ten days after her appointment as the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) Commissioner.
Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu, a member of the COC, had previously voiced his concerns about not having seen Malimali’s resignation letter. However, it was clarified that she officially resigned from her role as Electoral Commission chairperson on September 3, prior to assuming the FICAC position two days later.
Rabuka stated that the notification of Malimali’s resignation was sent via email from Solicitor-General Ropate Green at 8:17 AM on September 14. This was after Rabuka indicated to the media that he had yet to receive formal confirmation of the resignation.
The confirmation aims to address the concerns raised by politicians and the public regarding the appointment process for Malimali. Seruiratu reiterated his worries about the handling of her resignation, questioning why the resignation took so long to reach the Prime Minister and emphasizing that September 14 fell on a Saturday, not typically a working day.
He has also called for an investigation into the situation to ensure transparency and clarity around the matter.