NATIONAL Federation Party president Pio Tikoduadua says he cannot draw any conclusion about the genuinity of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s apology except what the Speaker of Parliament said that he wanted to apologise to him.
He made this comment to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee on September 3 after Opposition MP Mosese Bulitavu questioned him on whether the apology given by Mr Bainimarama to the Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau was genuine, given that he had known him for many years.
Mr Tikoduadua responded that it was a difficult question to answer because Mr Bainimarama did not come to him and that he did not hear it, nor was he present to witness it and then form an opinion.
“It has been reported to me that way and, therefore, I cannot draw any conclusion about the genuinity of that apology, except what the Honourable Speaker said that he had wanted to apologise to me,” he said.
Government Whip Alvick Maharaj then asked Mr Tikoduadua if he was willing to apologise on the basis that he uttered something and it was interpreted in a different way by all others.
Mr Tikoduadua said an apology would have to be given by someone who had wronged someone.
“Hypothetically if I had harmed you, I would come to you and say, “Alvick, I am sorry” and it is up to you whether you accept my apology or not.”
“But on a hypothetical matter, here as you are alluding to, I am saying and I have said this a couple times here, I know what I said, it is recorded on verbatim.”
