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COMMODORE JOSAIA V. BAINIMARAMA Prime Minister and Minister for Public Service, Peoples Charter for Change, Information, Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Civil Aviation, and Acting Minister for Finance and National Planning Meeting of Fiji Political Party Leaders Monday, 27 October, 08 Parliament Complex, Suva Statement of the Interim Government by Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister Fiji must return to parliamentary governance. On this particular goal, I should think that from the outset, we will all be in agreement. I wish to assure you all, in no uncertain terms, that the Interim Government is fully committed to attaining this goal; and we must achieve this as soon as practically possible. To go forward, and to ensure that we not only restore but are also able to sustain parliamentary governance, we need to ask : in our 38 year history as an independent nation, what are the lessons learned from our experience to-date with �democracy�? Following the coups in 1987, our constitutions were tinkered with, and we have had a number of elected parliaments. Yet, Fiji�s overall political, social and economic situation has persistently deteriorated. In fact, we have been on a precipitous path of decline. Fiji�s leaders need to wake up to this harsh reality, and also, that the old, �business-as-usual�, and communal-based, divisive type of leadership will take us down the path of doom. Such leadership must not and will not be tolerated. In this context also, merely convening an election and handing power back to the old �traditional� type of self-interested, elitist leaders and politicians will not be in the interest of the vast majority of the people of Fiji. Since April this year, we have been consistently pointing out that to restore democracy through a free and fair election, it is necessary to first change Fiji�s electoral system. Fiji�s current electoral system is undemocratic; it does not provide for a free and fair election; and it contravenes the principles of equal suffrage as set out in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights. The case for a reform of the electoral system is compelling. Fiji must have a non-racial and truly democratic electoral system. It is imperative, therefore, that we address the issue of electoral reform. For its part, the Interim Government cannot and will not compromise on the solemn commitment that it has made to the people of Fiji. This commitment is to develop a political and governance framework that is truly democratic, accountable, inclusive, equitable, non-racial, and which will draw upon Fiji�s diverse communities as a source of strength, for our unity as a nation. Fiji faces some very fundamental, deep rooted and complex problems. There are no quick or easy solutions to these. The Peoples Charter initiative that was launched late last year, outreached the people of Fiji, to make them fully aware of the country�s fundamental problems; and also, for our people to become actively involved and part of the solution, going forward. From the outset, the Peoples Charter process has been inclusive, consultative and participatory. All the representative organisations in the country, including all the major political parties, were invited to participate in the 45 member National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF), which was set up as a broadly inclusive, consultative body, independent of the Interim Government. Those opposed to the Interim Government, however, willfully decided not to participate in the NCBBF and in the formulation of the Peoples Charter. In rejecting this path to national level dialogue and a consensus-based approach to taking Fiji forward, some of the ardent opponents of the Interim-Government have also been vigorous in their efforts, to sabotage the Peoples Charter work. As you are aware, the NCBBF has produced a comprehensive Report on the State of the Nation and the Economy (SNE Report); and, drawing upon this, a draft Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress was formulated. This draft Peoples Charter is now being taken to the people throughout the whole country. Contrary to the claims of those who remain opposed, the draft Peoples Charter will not be imposed upon the people of Fiji. If the Interim Government were to do that, i.e. impose it, then it will not be a Peoples Charter. At present, the draft Peoples Charter document remains such i.e. a draft document. We will have a Peoples Charter only after the majority of Fiji�s people embrace it. It will then represent the collective will of the people of Fiji. It will not be, and cannot be, the �Bainimarama Charter�, or the �Charter of the Interim Government�. I anticipate that by mid-December this year, the NCBBF will conclude its work on the Peoples Charter and report back to His Excellency, the President. The feedback from the nation-wide consultations on the draft document will be taken into consideration, and revisions made to it, as appropriate, before it is finalised. We cannot, and will not, abandon this enormous and important work, which is being achieved through an extensive participatory and consultative process, just because some of you, and some others, have so far remain opposed. The vision in the Peoples Charter is to rebuild the nation on solid, rocklike foundations of equal rights, social justice, and sustainable democratic governance. We must work together and do our best to remove the �coup culture�, and Fiji�s people and leaders at all levels, must commit to democratic and just governance, and to the rule of law. It is important that policies which promote racial supremacy, and which unfairly further the interests of commercial, social and cultural elites, are removed, once and for all. We must find a way to see that the nation�s resources are productively utilized, and its wealth equitably shared. I therefore ask you, the leaders of political parties assembled here today : what is it, that you find objectionable, about the vision and the objectives of the Peoples Charter? Earlier, those opposing the Peoples Charter initiative, did so on the argument that the Interim Government is illegal; and that it does not have the mandate to undertake fundamental reforms. With the High Court�s recent ruling which declared the President�s appointment of the Interim Government as being legal, I urge our leaders, including you all, to place the interests of our nation to the forefront; and, for us all to move on, to work together to achieve the vision to rebuild our nation. I very much hope that this meeting today will mark a turning point. It is still not too late: for those who were earlier opposed, or challenged, to come on board, now. I urge you to submit any ideas or amendments you may have to improve the draft Peoples Charter. What is contained in the draft Peoples Charter is not necessarily the �only way� or the �Bainimarama way� forward for Fiji. Judging from the very positive feedback we are getting and the strong support for it, the Peoples Charter presents a considered way forward for Fiji. The implementation of the Peoples Charter is currently anticipated to be in four phases, up to year 2020. While the bulk of the implementation implications fall upon the people of Fiji and the communities at large, the Interim Government anticipates that, going forward, successive elected governments will take the responsibility, with due diligence and genuine commitment, to implement the Peoples Charter. I, therefore, appeal to our leaders at all levels (in the vanua, the church and other religious organisations, communities; and the civil society); and, in particular, I appeal to you, the political leaders, to recognise the need for change. There is a need for a new mindset among the leadership in our country. Our leaders need to aspire to take Fiji forward. This means recognising that we must achieve change, for a more equitable and prosperous future for all our people. I wish to submit to you that as Prime Minister, to achieve the vision of the Peoples Charter for a more stable and prosperous, united, non-racial Fiji, I have essentially two options available : � One option, and which I prefer, is to move forward through dialogue, confidence building and by developing a broad-based consensus for the change agenda, with a view to ensuring that democratically elected Governments undertake the implementation; OR � the second option, in the absence of support for the change agenda from the political parties, this will result in a protracted delay in the holding of parliamentary elections under a truly democratic electoral system. As you reflect further upon the position of your respective political party, please also take into account the Peoples Charter. For us to proceed on the path of the first option, it is imperative that in the President�s Political Dialogue Forum, we reach broad consensus on changes to the electoral system and also, for these to be introduced through legal and constitutional means. Moreover, the President�s Political Dialogue Forum must get underway with due urgency and speed, and I suggest that electoral reform be placed as the highest priority item on the agenda of the Forum, especially as this will have a direct bearing on the determination of the timeline for the election. It is not for the Interim Government to unilaterally determine the election timeline. I encourage this first meeting of the leaders of Political Parties today, to urge the Commonwealth Secretariat and the United Nations to respond to Fiji�s request to get the PPDF underway soonest, and for them to jointly facilitate it. Finally, and in a spirit of seeking constructive engagement in the political dialogue process and for transparency, I will share with you all, as part of this Statement, a set of documents that will give you the fullest possible details on the Interim Government�s activities and stance regarding moving Fiji forward. Thank you. --------- |
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