The Ombudsman Appointments Committee cannot appoint a Chief Ombudsman yet because of a previous court order taken out by a former commission employee.
The action was about former Chief Ombudsman Rigo Lua.
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill says to be fair in making appointments the committee appointed a subcommittee to look into reasons why Lua should be reappointed as Chief Ombudsman.
The subcommittee headed by former judge, Justice Greg Lay, had completed their task and their recommendations were before the appointments committee.
The members of the subcommittee include the State Solicitor and the president of the Law Society.
He says the committee is independent so that people don’t draw their own interpretation on whether the right thing was done or not.
“But we cannot do anything now because of this court order and we will allow the court processes to take its course,” O’Neill says.
Former Chief Ombudsman Rigo Lua had requested a reappointment before his term in office lapsed however the appointments committee has yet to make a decision.