Quo vadis, Fiji?

[posted 14 July 2010,1600]

So, elections may be deferred beyond 2014 just because Commodore Bainimarama is not happy with “constant interference in Fiji’s affairs by neighbours Australia and New Zealand”.

Strangely, Bainimarama is reported to have told Radio Tarana, a Hindi language radio station in Auckland, that …“ I’m all of a sudden thinking that we might not really be ready come 2014 for elections if we don’t get assistance from Australia and New Zealand…

“If we move to 2014 and we’re not ready because of constant interfering – we are not going to give up government to a political party that is not ready,” he said.

Is the Commodore playing games with the people of Fiji? Elections will be held at his whim. The people of Fiji are to be held to ransom while Commodore Bainimarama plays tit for tat with Australia and New Zealand.

The right of our people to choose a government of their choice, of course, does not come into the scheme of things.

Moreover, isn’t there an element of confusion here? On the one hand, he condemns interference from Australia and New Zealand and expels their diplomatic representatives, on the other he talks of wanting their assistance.

A similar contrariness was observed at the time of the Pacific Island Forum Ministerial Contact Group meeting in Auckland a couple of months back. An invitation was issued by Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola to the Group to visit Fiji, but was rescinded the minute they expressed reservations about Fiji. At that time, too, Commodore Bainimarama had threatened to defer elections.

So where do we stand in terms of the next general elections and returning Fiji to democratic rule? First, we were told that elections will be held in March 2009 as per agreement with the EU. Then a month later, it was announced that elections will be deferred to 2014.

Now we are told that because of interference by Australia and New Zealand even the 2014 deadline is not a certainty. We run the risk of having elections deferred each time Australia and New Zealand annoy the Commodore.

There is a serious credibility gap here. It makes one wonder whether the goal post will keep changing for ever!

The point is, Fiji does not have the time to play such games. There is growing concern about the deteriorating state of our economy and government finances.

Commodore Bainimarama keeps harping about reforms – “We will continue the path that we are on as we need reforms,” he says. Heaven forbid!

Almost four years down the line, there’s little evidence of any significant reforms. The State treasury is as depleted as it was at the time of the takeover in December 2006. Our debt situation keeps ballooning as the administration desperately goes around the globe seeking funds to carry out its activities.

Poverty levels have escalated to 45% of the population; our dollar has had to be devalued; inflation runs near double-digits and unemployment continues to climb.

Fiji cannot go on in this manner much longer. Surely our country and the welfare of its people must rank ahead of any other consideration. It can no longer be a question of satisfying personal egos. The national interest has to take first priority.

At this point in time, national interest demands that we make a positive move towards engaging in inclusive political dialogue aimed at moving the nation speedily towards general elections and democratic and constitutional rule.