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NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BUILDING A BETTER FIJI (NCBBF) 2ND MEETING HELD ON 27TH MARCH, 2008 COMMUNIQUE The second meeting of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF) was held at the Nasova Police Academy on Thursday, 27th March 2008. The National Council welcomed the participation in the NCBBF of several new members appointed by His Excellency the President. These included representatives from Soqosoqo Vakamarama; Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at, and Stri Sewa Sabah of Fiji. The Council now has 36 members. In his opening remarks to the National Council, His Grace Archbishop Petero Mataca re-iterated that political events over the last 20 years had left a trail of hurt, disappointments and un-reconciled people. The NCBBF agreed that in now developing the People’s Charter, it is very important that all the peoples of Fiji should treat respect and listening to one another as the cornerstones for rebuilding human relationships. The National Council members recognized that developments since the first NCBBF meeting held on 16th January, 2008 clearly show that the Council faces challenges in its efforts to progress the very important national initiative of developing a People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress (PCCPP). Nevertheless, the NCBBF affirmed that there is no doubt, notwithstanding such challenges, that all communities across Fiji are seeking a better, more united and more prosperous Fiji. The National Council recognized that national unity and national interest must now be paramount in any effort to embed sustainable democracy rather than the pursuit of narrow self serving political agendas. The National Council agreed that determination and perseverance in helping chart the way forward for Fiji was essential. It urged the many supporters of the People’s Charter not to be deterred by the negative rhetoric of the few. Over time, it is very important that all the people of Fiji become committed to the way forward in addressing Fiji’s deep-rooted problems. In addressing the National Council, Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Josaia V. Bainimarama, applauded the progress made so far in the formulation of the PCCPP. However, he noted that the progress could have been even better if there had been less resistance to change from some within and outside Fiji. The Interim Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to the People’s Charter process. The National Council stressed that the work on the Peoples Charter was an absolutely vital part of the preparation for the general election in March 2009. It is important that national agreement on the way forward for Fiji, through a People’s Charter, is in place well before the next election. The National Council’s meeting was divided into two major sessions. The morning session covered an update on the preparation of the draft Peoples Charter which includes the status of the preparation of the SNE Report; the meetings of the National Task Teams and their respective Working Groups; the media and outreach strategy; and the formation of an Independent Monitoring Group (IMG). The afternoon session covered discussion of a number of critical issues relating to further work required and the timetable necessary for the completion of PCCPP work. The issues discussed included the Role of the Interim Government vis-ŕ-vis NCBBF, the desirability, and practicality of a National Referendum and Related Issues; Dialogue and Reconciliation Initiatives; and the role of Civil Society. National Council Members noted the initiatives to continue with dialogue with those who had not yet taken up their NCBBF membership; and expressed the hope that those who have not yet responded will come onboard. It also noted, with regret, two resignations from the Council and one from a Working Group. With the establishment of its nine Working Groups, the Council noted that there were now approximately 200 representatives of the people of Fiji actively involved in discussions on vital issues affecting the people of Fiji. The Working Groups would soon start meeting to discuss 38 Issues and Discussion Papers that were being prepared for consideration. The National Council noted with appreciation the progress made so far by TASS in the preparation of the SNE Report, as outlined in the reports made by the submissions provided by Chairpersons of the three National Task Teams. A number of National Council members raised questions about the poor quality and negative nature of some of the media reporting on the People’s Charter. The NCBBF expressed concern that important information on the many vital issues facing Fiji, as outlined in the Consultation Document on the State of the Nation and the Economy, was not even being discussed in the media. The absence of relevant information about the People’s Charter was making it more difficult for the public to understand what the relevant issues were. To improve the promotion of the People’s Charter, the National Council endorsed a Communication, Public Relations and Media Strategy. In order to assist the media in their important work, the NCBBF also called on TASS to organize further information sessions for media representatives to help to improve their awareness of Charter issues. The Council also welcomed the public release of the video song, “A New Day for Fiji”, to help to promote the People’s Charter process and the case for change in Fiji. The National Council felt that even more critical to the success of the People’s Charter process were the grass roots consultations that are now getting underway among communities across Fiji. These consultations covered “bread and butter” issues like improving government services through building better roads and enhancing education and health delivery; finding opportunities to create new jobs; alleviating the extent of poverty in squatter settlements and rural communities; and resolving issues that caused racial tension. The NCBBF noted that in the consultations so far undertaken, particularly with young people, there was considerable enthusiasm for change once the rationale for a People’s Charter was explained. The proposed appointment of a three member Independent Monitoring Group (IMG) by His Excellency the President to independently monitor and oversight the PCCPP process, was acknowledged and welcomed by the Council. In the course of a wide ranging discussion on the critical national issues facing Fiji, members of the NCBBF: - Expressed their disappointment that particular recommendations the Reeves Commission had made on the Constitution, had not been accepted in 1997- these would have moved the country away from the race-based politics that has divided the people of the country against themselves. NCBBF members suggested that the electoral rules need to be changed to ensure sustainable parliamentary democracy. - Affirmed that it was time to move away from elitist and self-centered politics and to focus through good governance on promoting national unity and pursuing policies that are in the national interest of the people of Fiji. - Emphasized the importance of having stronger governance institutions to enforce accountability and to punish corrupt practices. - Strongly endorsed the need to end the coup culture and to entrench long term political stability. - Noted the necessity for fostering enlightened community leaders who are prepared to be accountable to their communities and work unselfishly for the betterment of their people. - Stressed the significance of setting meaningful and achievable targets for reducing poverty; for revitalizing the economy so as to create new markets; and for creating new jobs. - Pointed out the requirement to confront the underlying social and economic issues in Fiji that create law and order problems. In considering critical issues relating to the successful completion of the PPCCP, the Council agreed to the following: (i) The National Council believed that, while there were linkages, the clear demarcation between the day to day running of the Interim Government and the work of the NCBBF must continue. It is urgent that the NCBBF continue its independence and autonomy and express whatever views they believed were in the best interests of the people of Fiji; (ii) The National Council noted the essential role to be played by civil society in promoting the People’s Charter and, for that purpose, supported the creation of support groups at the local grass roots level; (iii) The necessity to fully involve the people of Fiji so as to ensure the general acceptance for the People’s Charter is well established through the Charter process and that any future governments treat themselves as bound by the Charter; (iv) Dialogue and reconciliation initiatives must be rigorously continued so that the whole process in the formulation of the PCCPP is inclusive and that there is a strong sense of ownership and commitment from all stakeholders; and (v) The Council agreed that since a majority of the members are from civil society organization they should continue to take a leading and pro-active role in the process and the formulation of the PCCPP. The National Council endorsed the revised timetable for the completion of PCCPP work so as to provide more time for consultations and for the deliberation of the Working Groups. …………………………………. ………………………………… Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama His Grace Petero Mataca Prime Minister, Co-Chair, NCBBF Archbishop, Co-Chair, NCBBF |
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