Solicitor-general row continues

AN uproar over the acting appointment of the solicitor-general is far from over as Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is yet to be briefed on who is holding the post.
O’Neill said there was more than one appointment made and related statements released.
Conflicting statements were made on the advertisements for the position and the acting appointment process, one from Chief Secretary Isaac Lupari, who claimed he was acting on the advice of the prime minister to stop further gazettal of an acting appointment
made by Minster for Justice and Attorney-General Davis Steven, who also claimed to have sought advice and clearance from the prime minister to make the acting appointment.
O’Neill, however, said the position was going through the process and was being advertised before the applications went through screening process and recommendations forwarded to NEC to make a permanent appointment.
Steven, the top legal adviser to the Government, said a new advertisement for the position was expected in both daily papers today.
He claimed that his department secretary’s attempts to prepare and submit a brief on the issue was prevented by Lupari. He said Lupari was insisting that the Department of Justice and Attorney-General Secretary Dr Eric Kwa had recognised Faith Barton as the acting
solicitor-general despite his decision and court orders dismissing the judicial review sought by Barton.
However, he said a letter would be issued this week.
“I have the prime minister’s word as his minister performing his delegated powers and I trust him. He will stop me when he thinks I am going out but he has not done that so I don’t’ know where the other directives are coming from,” he said.
Steven said it was obvious that Barton, who had been acting the position, went to the court to stop the advertisements and acting appointment of Tauvasa Tanuvasa.