By Nacanieli Tuilevuka in Suva
Fiji’s former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad will be sworn back into Cabinet tomorrow, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed.
Speaking to The Fiji Times in Savusavu, Rabuka said Dr Prasad would return to Cabinet, although his ministerial portfolio had yet to be finalised.
“Tomorrow, he will be sworn in tomorrow,” Rabuka said.
Dr Prasad is now a free man after Magistrate Yogesh Prasad ruled that he had no case to answer on two charges brought against him by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
The ruling was delivered in the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday, bringing an end to the criminal proceedings against Dr Prasad.
Dr Prasad had faced two charges under the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.
Asked whether Dr Prasad would be reinstated as Minister for Finance, Prime Minister Rabuka said he would first need to assess the current Cabinet arrangements.
Best solution
“I do not know yet. I will have to look at what we have in Cabinet and assess what the Minister of Finance has been doing,” he said.
“If that is the best solution, he will be reinstated. Otherwise, he will take back a position in Cabinet.”
Rabuka said several ministers were currently handling additional portfolios, which would need to be considered before a final decision was made.
“You know there are some ministers carrying additional portfolios. For example, [Filimoni] Vosarogo is currently handling two other portfolios,” he said.
However, the Prime Minister indicated that Finance, Trade and Commerce would be the most suitable portfolio for Prof Prasad.
“The most appropriate portfolio for him would be Finance, Trade and Commerce,” Rabuka said.
Nacanieli Tuilevuka is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.
