Koya will not comment on why the Draft Police Bill and Market Regulations were not drafted and vetted by the Solicitor General’s Office

Acting Attorney General and Minister for Economy Faiyaz Koya will not make any comments on why the retracted Draft Police Bill and Draft Market Regulations were not drafted and vetted by the Solicitor General’s Office.

We have asked Koya if he as the acting Attorney General has investigated why this was allowed to happen as the Ministry of Defence came up with a Draft Police Bill while the Ministry of Local Government came up with a Draft Market Regulations done by a consultant.

Koya says the Prime Minister has already spoken on the issue.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama had earlier retracted consultations on the Draft Police Bill as he stated that it was not endorsed by the Solicitor General and cabinet.

He says what was endorsed was a consultation on the old Police Act 1965, not on a Draft Police Bill.

Bainimarama says the draft bill was prepared by Police and the contents of the draft do not represent government policy.

We have also approached the Local Government Minister, Premila Kumar on why a consultant was hired to draft the market regulations as such regulations should go through the Solicitor General’s Office.

Fijivillage is waiting for Kumar’s comments.