Premila Kumar Criticizes Government’s Integrity Over Key Appointments

MP Premila Kumar has expressed deep concern over what she describes as a growing pattern of political interference and erosion of due process in the appointment of senior public officials.

Her remarks come in response to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s comments attributing the controversial appointment of the Acting Commissioner of Corrections to a failure by the Solicitor-General to provide necessary disclosures.

In a strongly worded statement, Kumar said the government’s failure to uphold transparency and merit-based appointments reflects a broader governance issue.

“This is the inevitable result when you appoint incompetent advisors, including the current Attorney-General Graham Leung and the Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga,” Kumar stated. “Basic due diligence and integrity checks have been thrown out the window.”

She referenced the earlier appointment of Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner—despite what she described as a “controversial record in Tuvalu”—as an example of what she believes is a disturbing trend.

“Fijians rightly question how these appointments are made. The current Acting Commissioner of Corrections leapfrogged a sitting Deputy Commissioner. Where is the justification? And how was this possible?” Kumar questioned.

Kumar also raised alarm about the perceived politicisation of oversight bodies such as the Constitutional Offices Commission and the Judicial Services Commission, institutions originally established to uphold independence and public confidence in the civil service.

“These bodies now appear to be functioning in the interest of the government, rather than safeguarding the interests of the Fijian people,” she said. “What we are witnessing is not just disappointing—it’s a dangerous erosion of public trust.”

She further warned that undermining the credibility of these institutions could have long-term implications for democracy and governance in Fiji.

“The message being sent is clear: loyalty to the government is valued more than competence, character, or commitment to public service,” she said. “This is not the change Fijians were promised.”