Editor,

THE Government finds it incomprehensible that the former Attorney General, Mr John Cauchi, persists in claiming that the Attorney General and the Judicial Services Commission have a role in the appointment of Judges even though he knows for a fact that the appointment of Judges in Tonga, under the present Constitution, is the prerogative of His Majesty The King, with the consent of the Privy Council.

His claim that Cabinet had decided "not to support" the appointment of independent prosecutors to prosecute matters regarding the sinking of MV Ashika is a deliberate and malicious misrepresentation designed to instigate public animosity towards Government, especially amongst the families of those whose lives were lost in the tragedy.

Cabinet's decision on 21 April was to defer the appointments, " . . . until estimates of required funds and other related issues are approved first, considering the current tight financial constraint of Government." Surely this cannot be interpreted as "not to support"!

His claim that Government has taken steps to abolish the Judicial Services Commission and repeal the Judicial Services Commission Act is indeed correct. Unfortunately he omitted to add that Government intends to elevate and strengthen the Judiciary further by establishing the Office of the Lord Chancellor, which will also inherit the roles and functions of the Judicial Services Commission. His claim that this is the final step required to destroy the integrity and the independence of the Judiciary is again a deliberate fabrication designed to demonise the Government.

Faka'apa'apa atu,

Lopeti Senituli

Press Secretary/Political Adviser to the Hon Prime Minister

lsenituli [at] pmo [dot] gov [dot] to ( lsenituli [at] pmo [dot] gov [dot] to)