Raw Fiji News

We say – how often has Frank Bainimarama lived by the words he has uttered below?  Such noble ideals that unfortunately gets lost when released by a liar, and an  indespicable murderer and human rights violator like Fiji’s coupmaker Frank Bainimarama, who is responsible for the death, beating and torturing of his own Fijian people. Frank doesn’t have it in him to  act the part of a nation builder. Frank is a tyrant for crying out loud! Fiji needs a credible civilian leader to say those words Frank and only then will the world believe it. At first glance, one can’t help but think that all these blurbs continue to ring hollow given Frank’s disgusting violence against his own kind and his junta’s escalating corruption, abuse of office, non-transperancy, embezzelment of taxpayers funds, croynism, nepotism and most importantly, Frank’s politics of war. Sorry Frank, maybe its time for you to go and get someone more credible to talk the talk and walk the talk of hope that Fiji badly needs right now.

Keynote address at the 2010 national budget consultative forum

Novotel Convention Centre
LAMI

17 September, 2009
0830 Hours

Cabinet Ministers;
Ladies and Gentlemen.

Bula Vinaka and a Good Morning to you all.

The last time we met as a group before a budget was last year at the Economic Summit.

As you are aware His Excellency our President abrogated the 1997 Constitution in April of this year. He then appointed my Government with the Mandate to have elections in September 2014.
Following the Presidential Mandate on 1st July of this year, I announced the Strategic Framework for Change which sets out the objectives of my Government vis-a-vis the People’s Charter with an agenda to modernize and reform.

To reiterate, consultations on a new Constitution shall begin in September 2012 with the view to have one in place by September 2013. Elections are to be held a year after that.

However, until then the focus of Government shall be on the economy. The focus will mean politics, political parties and politicians shall not be part of the agenda. The agenda will mean bringing the much needed dynamism to the economy and the commercial sector. It will mean thinking outside the box, making a paradigm shift.

As I have said my Government is a government of change. I want to modernize – modernize to improve Government services, run government like a business, and modernize our way of thinking to ensure that we set the foundations of a sound and robust economy – an economy that will reap benefit for all, not just a select few. It must not favor a select group of businesses, it must not marginalize our workers and it must not be prone to high risk.

Accordingly, as businesses, as financial institutions, as employers and employees, you must engage not just with me and my Government and also with each other. If you are serious and committed to a Fiji which is to realize her true potential then you will take a holistic approach to the economy. You will situate your sector, your business and your employee claims within the context of the greater Fijian economy and the well being of her people. We no longer can afford to be parochial and selfish.

Ladies and gentlemen you have been asked to attend this forum today to contribute to discussions that will assist me to formulate not just the 2010 Budget but the budgets that are to ensue for the next 5 years.

I want consistencies in policies and long term goals to provide investor confidence to help you and me to plan our Government, our businesses, our lives, and our country.

I know there has been some disgruntlement over certain polices over the past couple of years. But we are not here to look into the past. We are here to look at our future.

I also know that in modernizing the economy, in creating a level playing field, in correcting the wrongs of the past and in liberalizing the economy, some will initially be dissatisfied. However, some of these adjustments are necessary. I and my Government are not averse to making tough decisions. After all, the economies of Singapore and Mauritius are what they are today because of the ability of their respective governments to make tough and forward looking decisions.

Our economy, individual businesses and industries cannot and should not survive on an unrealistic platform. It must be robust and it must flourish in a realistic environment. Our economic growth must be based on a sustainable foundation. We must not repeat the mistakes of the past when unsustainable fiscal and monetary policies were put in place.

There are of course a number of factors outside our control and the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji will give you a realistic analysis of what is happening globally, the impact of the World recession and the repercussions on the Fijian economy. You will also hear about Government spending.

But today I and my team are here to listen to you. I want to listen to your ideas about your sectors and the economy at large. When telling us what your views are don’t just think about next year but think long term. I most definitely am. As I said I want to put in train policies that will be forward-looking, to provide consistency and confidence. I want to situate Fiji in a prime position. I want us to leap-frog not merely plod along.

I know you all may have a long wish list but be practical and give me at least three key issues from your sector that you would like addressed, keeping in my mind the overall economic objectives and demands of other interest groups.

As I said on 1st July, I want us all to seize the moment, seize the moment to build a better Fiji in which we and our future generations, all benefit.

Vinaka vakalevu.

-Ends-