Apenisa Waqairadovu 
[Photo: File]
Former Fisheries and Forestry Minister Kalaveti Ravu remains on the government backbench, months after being acquitted of criminal charges.
Ravu was charged with interfering with the lawful process of a ministerial investigation into the suspected trade of banned beche-de-mer.
He was acquitted in January, but says he has no idea whether he will return to Cabinet.
Ravu says it is now up to his party.
“I have no ideas on that. I can’t say much on that. It depends on the party.”
Ravu also says he has not raised the issue with anyone, including the Prime Minister.
His continued absence from Cabinet comes as other coalition MPs who faced allegations or legal scrutiny have returned to ministerial positions after being cleared.
These include Lynda Tabuya, Aseri Radrodro, Jese Saukuru and Manoa Kamikamica.
However, an acquittal clears a person of the criminal charge but does not automatically guarantee a return to Cabinet.
The appointment and removal of ministers is a political decision made by the Prime Minister under Fiji’s constitutional framework.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad remains the only former Cabinet minister currently facing criminal charges.
