![Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and (Retired) Lt Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini. [Image: Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka/facebook]](https://www.fijivillage.com/news_images/198890784864018a8584a57badf140.jpg)
(Retired) Lt Colonel Filipo Tarakinikini’s appointment as Fiji’s Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York is temporary.
Speaking from Panama, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Lt-Colonel Tarakinikini was already ‘on the ground’ to immediately step in.
Following the questions raised by the Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry on Tarakinikini’s acting appointment, Rabuka says it is an acting and temporary appointment only.
Rabuka says an acting appointment from within was not possible given the seniority of the position and given the fact that the next officer in the establishment is a Second Secretary, following the earlier resignation of the Counsellor.
He says the substantive Permanent Representative’s term was due to end in April and it would have been an unnecessary cost and inconvenience to have someone from Suva fill the post temporarily.
Rabuka says Tarakinikini is based in New York and he is thoroughly familiar with the UN system having worked in the UN headquarters until December last year.
He says the appointment process would be adhered to.
The Prime Minister says this will be done together with the review and recall of other relevant Heads of Missions, and a substantive appointment made through the due process.
Tarakinikini is expected to return to Fiji after the Ocean’s Conference in Panama City, for the Public Service Commission to finalize the process.
Rabuka says if successful, he will be sworn in by the President and then he will return with his credentials to serve in the position.
Meanwhile Chaudhry says the fact remains that the appointment of Tarakinikini is in breach of the rules of establishment in the civil service.
He says the rules do not permit the appointment of a person from outside the service to a position in an acting capacity.
Chaudhry now says as a consequence, the acting appointments of Pita Wise as Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, Parmesh Chand as Permanent Secretary at the PSC and Tarun Patel as Acting CEO of FBC are all also in breach of the rules.
He says he is informed that the contract of Dr Satendra Prasad who remains listed as Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the UN expires in April 2023.
Chaudhry asks why was it then necessary to replace him earlier as he could have continued in office while arrangements were made to advertise and fill the position in the normal manner.
The FLP Leader says Tarakinikini’s reported return to Fiji poses new questions.
Chaudhry says if the job is in New York why is he being brought back to Fiji at a cost to the taxpayer when his appointment is temporary as stated by the Acting Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica.
He also says the next question is whether Tarakinikini’s credentials have been presented to and accepted by the UN for him to assume office.
Chaudhry says the senior coalition partners campaigned tall on good governance.
He says those who voted for or supported them expect them to hold true to their promise.
