Fiji Television reported on 24 December, however, that she had refused to accept her dismissal. Ratu Ovini Bokini, Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs supported her stance, claiming that only the FAB was empowered to terminate her contract. She continued to work from an improvised office in the Great Council of Chiefs Secretariat, in defiance of the regime, which appointed Ratu Meli Bainimarama, brother of Military Commander Commodore Frank Bainimarama, in her stead. Commodore Bainimarama reacted angrily on 17 December, with Fiji Live quoting him as saying that the stance of the Great Council of Chiefs in refusing to recognize Qionibaravi's dismissal was indicative of their noncooperation with the Military regime.