Nadi Police disbanded a meeting of the Fiji Trades Union Congress earlier today for once again holding a meeting without a permit as required under the Public Emergency Regulations or PER.
The Fiji Police Force was requested to disband this meeting as the group had clearly breached the provisions set forth in the PER. The outcome of any application for a permit is based on various factors including those decided by security forces in the country.
Ministry of Information permanent secretary Sharon Smith Johns today confirmed that the group was disbanded after it was found that they had held a meeting without a permit.
“Despite numerous reminders and requests to apply for these permits, union members continue to ignore the laws of this country and hold meetings without it. It is clear that certain union members are testing the limits of the law by blatantly ignoring the PER. It is clear that this small group will continue to disobey the law and attempt to cause instability”, Smith Johns said.
The permanent secretary also added that this was an unnecessary incident that had distracted the police force from doing its work.
“The police force has had to utilise resources and time to disband a group that selfishly knows the process of the laws in this country”, Ms Smith Johns said.
“It is unfortunate that despite the cases before the courts in as far as the PER is concerned these individuals and groups continue to disregard the laws of this country and the safety and stability of this nation”.
The permanent secretary said that despite the motives of these unionists, Government with the relevant parties will continue to weigh the applications for permits.
“At the end of the day, Government will continue to work in the best interests of this country and the safety of her citizens. That above all is our only concern”, Smith Johns said.
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