Virendra Lal Pushes for Dedicated Legal Advice for Fiji’s MPs

Fiji’s Parliament has no dedicated Parliamentary Counsel to advise its 55 lawmakers, prompting a committee to call for a specialist legal office. Opposition MP Virendra Lal raised the issue with Parliament Secretary-General Jeanette Emberson, saying not every member of Parliament has a legal background and lawmakers need access to legal advice. The Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence has recommended setting up an office that would offer independent legal guidance, help draft legislation and provide procedural support. Its review found that Parliament currently has neither a Parliamentary Counsel nor a specialised legal drafting unit. Emberson told the committee the Secretariat was still pursuing either the appointment of a Parliamentary Counsel or the creation of a dedicated Legal Unit. Parliament filled a Senior Legal Officer post in June 2024, but its written response said the Finance Ministry had not approved extra staff for the unit. The proposed legal office is one of several reforms still outstanding, alongside an independent accounting system, a Parliamentary Bill and a stand-alone parliamentary precinct. Emberson also confirmed that no work had been undertaken to review the law governing Parliament’s powers and privileges. She said a separate parliamentary building would not be an overnight project. The committee highlighted another practical concern: limited facilities for journalists covering Parliament. Deputy committee chair Rinesh Sharma said reporters sometimes have to wait for ministers throughout the day, adding that standing for extended periods is painful. The committee recommended providing better working space for media personnel. The photograph accompanying the report shows committee members and Parliament representatives, but the article’s central development is the proposed legal support for MPs and the committee’s wider recommendations.