Maharaj is not listening says Vosarogo

Government MP Filimoni Vosarogo says Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj is “not listening” and should follow proper parliamentary process if he wants the Prime Minister removed, instead of making public calls for resignation.

Responding to Maharaj’s statement calling for Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to step down, Vosarogo said the Constitution and parliamentary rules are clear on how a Prime Minister can be challenged.

“Let me repeat myself — if you want the nation’s Prime Minister to go, do it the way the law says it should be done,” Vosarogo said.

“If it pleases the honourable member, he can move the motion instead of his leader. He will find out the difference of someone who came to parliament as of right and someone who came by the thread of a tailcoat.”

Vosarogo also accused members now in opposition who were part of the previous government of inconsistency, claiming they did not call for their own leader to resign following a past physical incident involving MP Pio Tikoduadua within the parliamentary precincts.

He said instead Tikoduadua was punished and suspended.

He further urged Maharaj to review the State affidavits filed in the Malimali case, saying they are public documents and that the Prime Minister’s decision was based on material outlined in those filings and reflected in the court’s judgment.

The exchange follows Maharaj’s call for Prime Minister Rabuka to resign after the Government decided not to proceed with its appeal against the High Court ruling on the removal of former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali.

Maharaj argued that dropping the appeal effectively accepts the court’s finding that the dismissal was unlawful and unconstitutional, and said the Prime Minister should honour his earlier public comments that resignation was an option if the legal process did not support the Government’s position.