The High Court in Suva has set aside two days in June to hear former Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) chief executive Joweli Cawaki’s application for leave to seek judicial review of his termination, the court was told yesterday. Justice Savenaca Banuve will hear the matter, which is due to commence on June 9 at 9.30am, with lawyer Jagath Karunaratne appearing for Mr Cawaki.
Mr Cawaki’s case was called for mention before Justice Banuve, during which court documents filed on his behalf outlined the grounds for seeking judicial review. According to those documents, Mr Cawaki was issued a termination letter while he remained suspended pending an investigation into alleged misconduct concerning the vessel Captain Inoke. He alleges his dismissal did not follow due process and breached principles of natural justice.
Specifically, the application contends MSAF failed to disclose the allegations, the evidence or the findings of the investigation to Mr Cawaki and denied him the opportunity to be heard. The former chief executive is seeking orders quashing the termination, a declaration that the decision was unlawful, and other reliefs as the court may deem appropriate.
Five respondents are named in the application: the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji, the MSAF Board of Directors, the Attorney‑General, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Public Enterprises. The leave application is the first procedural step in seeking judicial review; if leave is granted, the court will proceed to a fuller hearing on the merits of the challenge.
The MSAF is the statutory body charged with maritime safety and regulatory oversight in Fiji. The scheduling of two days in the High Court reflects the contested nature of the claims, which turn on procedural fairness in the context of employment and disciplinary processes at a public agency.
This hearing is the latest development in the dispute over Mr Cawaki’s dismissal; its outcome will determine whether the termination stands or whether the court will order remedial actions, including potentially setting the employment decision aside. The full hearing will begin at the Suva High Court on June 9 at 9.30am.
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