Make yourselves accountable to the people, through Parliament.
This was Suva lawyer Jon Apted’s plea to the coalition Government, while speaking at the Fiji Law Society Convention 2023 at the Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour yesterday.
He said Government was required to table new Standing Orders for the new life of Parliament.
He called on them to table standing orders that enliven the recognised, constitutionally enshrined concept of responsible government, adding the Constitution required ministers to answer to Parliament and parliamentary committees.
“If you did not know much about this concept it’s because it has not worked very well in the last 13 years,” Mr Apted said.
“The standing orders of Parliament since 2014 have not really encouraged full accountability of ministers to Parliament.”
Mr Apted said he hoped that the new Government in practice would allow and encourage members of the House to question and hold them accountable for their actions.
“They were voted for by the people, are paid by the people, and the Constitution guarantees that the executive answers to the people – through the legislature.”
