Suspended Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde has expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s recent comments affirming that Pryde is entitled to continue receiving his salary until officially removed from office.
After being suspended for fifteen months, Pryde addressed the issue by sending a five-page letter to New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, highlighting that his salary had been halted by the Fijian Government.
Prime Minister Rabuka recently announced that he would consult with the responsible parties regarding Pryde’s salary, emphasizing that Pryde is legally entitled to all salaries until his official removal.
Pryde expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for these comments, stating: “I have heard nothing further from the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) since their one-sided decision on Tuesday. I hope they reconsider and allow me to defend myself at the tribunal without further interference in due process.”
Additionally, Prime Minister Rabuka confirmed that no discussions about appointing the Police Commissioner and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) were held during the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) meeting on Friday night.
“There are no final lists that have come through from the tribunals,” Rabuka said. “They have not reported back to the tribunal.”
Regarding the appointment of the Police Commissioner, Rabuka explained that the process involves a different approach: “There is a tribunal to investigate, and they have not returned the report to the commission.”