Reposted by Dr. H. Koya

Fiji magistrate’s ruling on curfew breakers set aside

A high court judge in Fiji has set aside a magistrate’s ruling to acquit three people charged with breaching the Covid-19 nationwide curfew.

On Thursday, Nadi Magistrate Siromi Turaga ruled that under the Public Health Act, the Prime Minister did not have the powers to order the arrests but the Health Minister did.

Mr Turaga said the State had prosecuted the accused on a non-existent law and therefore the charges were null and void.

But Justice Vincent Perera said Mr Turaga should have allowed the prosecution to amend the charge by “deleting Prime Minister and include the Minister of Health” as the curfew orders were approved by the Health Minister.

Earlier, Fiji’s chief prosecutor said the State would appeal the magistrate’s decision and the government referred the matter to the High Court.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde, said Mr Turaga had “made an error of law”.

The case has been adjourned to Tuesday.

Legal consultant arrested

Meanwhile a legal consultant has been charged with malicious acts relating to the Public Order Act.

Police said Meline Buadromo had claimed on social media that police were responsible for the death of a remand prisoner.

Police said the man died while being transferred to hospital from the corrections facility.

Hundreds of people were arrested this week for breaching the Covid-19 nationwide curfew.

Including an incident where a man was allegedly beaten to death on Thursday during a social gathering on Vanua Levu.

Police said they were concerned pleas to the public to adhere to the curfew restrictions were “falling on deaf ears.”

Since the curfew came into effect on 30 March, police said more than 1500 people had been arrested.

Energy Fiji Limited said electricity services had been back on in Navua, Deuba, Pacific Harbour, Vunidawa and Naitasiri on Thursday while homes in Nausori received power on Friday.

The state-owned utility company said services to the rest of the affected areas were expected to be restored this weekend.

These areas included Rakiraki, Tavua, Nadarivatu, Ba, Nadi, Sigatoka and Korolevu.

Earlier EFL had underestimated the time it would take to restore power to affected communities, publicly stating electricity would be restored by last Monday.

Cyclone Harold, which struck as a category four storm, killed one person, injured dozens and destroyed more than 2000 homes.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has given Fiji $US273,000 to help in its response to Cyclone Harold.

The organisation tweeted the assistance was part of the UN’s special fund for emergency and rehabilitation.

It said the funding would help Fiji’s relief efforts following the widespread damage caused by the storm.

COOK ISLAND NEWS UPDATE

The Cook Islands has been declared free of COVID-19, allowing churches to reopen this weekend.

Starting last night’s address to the nation, Prime Minister Henry Puna thanked God for giving people courage and strength during the country’s greatest threat in modern history.

He said hundreds of Covid-19 tests taken in the Cook Islands had come back negative, and the country can officially be confirmed as a Covid-free zone – one of the first nations in the world to do so.

This means some of the more restrictive Code Yellow measures introduced in late March to stop the virus, will now be eased.

All schools will reopen on Monday, domestic travel restrictions to and from the Pa Enua (outer islands) will be lifted, non-contact sports can resume, cafés and restaurants can open for normal business but with physical distancing in place, and restrictions on the sale of alcohol will be reviewed.

And for many church-goers, the reopening of church services this weekend will be music to their ears.

Religious Advisory Council president Eric Toleafoa said he was overjoyed. The Covid-19 threat had meant Cook Islands churches were operating in uncharted territory.

“Praise the Lord. This is wonderful news for our congregations, I know there will be mamas and papas jumping for joy.”

His own Seventh Day Adventist Church will be first to resume full services on Saturday, and others will follow on Sunday.

Toleafoa said the Covid-19 crisis had been a shock to everyone, but he felt for those church members who have struggled with loneliness and anxiety.

“We are so used to worshipping together,” he said. “We have had to work on doing things differently and look at avenues to reach those stuck at home, but not everyone is on social media.

“Everyone can put their worries behind them. I believe everything will now fall into place.”

Seventh Day Adventist elder Vaopaaki Tearetoa and his wife Ngatereapii have two pews at home – they said they had not missed a Sabbath during church closures.

But as long as the directive had come from Te Marae Ora, the health ministry, they would be happy to return to church.

“I would hate for the work of the ministry and others to be undone,” Vaopaaki Tearetoa said, cautiously.

Ngatereapii Tearetoa said she would stay at home for now and worship on Sabbath days with her children and grandchildren.

She used the guidance of her faith in every aspect of her life and said she prays for her brother, the Prime Minister “during these times.”

– Cook Island News