Forum has run out of patience with Fiji

Forum has run out of patience with Fiji

www.sun.com.fj - 8/20/2008

Pacific Forum leaders have “run out of patience” with the interim Government.
While there have been mixed reactions from members of the Forum at the absence of interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama from the Niue meeting, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said her regional peers had run out of patience.

The meeting, which began yesterday, heard immediate reactions to Cdre Bainimarama’s failure to attend.

“I think the Forum should send a very clear message to him,” said Ms Clark.

“We don’t really know what the dynamics are in Fiji at this point but I think people will be surprised that their self proclaimed PM is not ready to face his peers here.”

Pacnews reported she likened Commodore Bainimarama’s reaction to that of Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, when he was expelled from the Commonwealth.

“I have a feeling of deja vu about this,” she said.

“It seems like the dance the Commonwealth had with Zimbabwe but the Commonwealth stuck to its principles. Robert Mugabe left rather than face his peers. One hopes that Fiji sees the sense of sticking to the commitments it gave to leaders.”

She did not rule out further sanctions against Fiji but only hinted that the report of the Forum Ministerial Contact Group (MCG) is expected to be endorsed by the leaders today.

“The report concludes that there is no technical, administrative or managerial reasons for Fiji not to honour its March 2009 elections commitment. The problem is there is no political will.

“In my bilateral meetings with the Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Malielegaoi and the Papua New Guinea foreign affairs minister, who are members of the Ministerial Contact Group, they indicated their support for the MCG report,” said Ms Clark.

Tongan Prime Minister and outgoing chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dr Feleti Sevele said, he personally felt let down by the non attendance of Commodore Bainimarama.’

“We acted in good faith and as a regional organisation, we included everybody in the discussions on Fiji” Dr Sevele told journalists.

“I am disappointed that he is not fulfilling his commitment and he’s not here. His actions have undermined the Forum, putting it under stress,” said Dr Sevele.

Fiji Moans About Pacific Regional Entities

Pacific Plan questioned by state
www.sun.com.fj - 8/20/2008

The interim government has questioned the decision of the Pacific Forum island leaders to merge some of the functions of 10 regional organisations in the Pacific.
A paper obtained by Pacnews said Fiji wanted to revisit the decision to rationalise some of the functions of the Suva-based Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission with the work programmes of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme.
It also questioned the rationale behind merging another Suva based regional organisation, the South Pacific Bureau for Education Assessment into the SPC.
“Fiji is very concerned about the process through which recommendations from senior officials about the preferred regional institutional framework particularly the interpretation thereof, may have been put to leaders for a decision,” the paper stated.
“Furthermore, Fiji believes that the format of the retreat further isolated leaders from senior government officials who would otherwise have provided advice that was more effective leading up to the leaders meeting.”
Fiji said the decision on SOPAC and SPBEA was unfortunate.
“This exercise takes the developing Pacific Island States back towards the days when there was just one regional organisation, the former South Pacific Commission. It was an arrangement that was rejected by the Pacific Island Leaders then because their voices were drowned out by the metropolitan members of the organisation.”
Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Feleti Teo told journalists there were only two country initiative papers prepared by Samoa and Vanuatu are on the agenda of the Leaders Meeting.

AFL chairman sacked

AFL chairman sacked
By TIMOTHY NAIVALUWAQA- Friday, August 15, 2008

www.fijitimes.com

AIRPORTS Fiji Limited chairman Digby Bossley has been dismissed by the interim Government barely a year after taking up office.
Interim Public Enterprises Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum confirmed yesterday Mr Bossley's services were terminated on Wednesday.
When asked for a reason, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said "All I can say is that Mr Bossley's appointment has been terminated."
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Public Enterprises permanent secretary Pio Tikoduadua has been appointed to the board and that an acting chairman's position would be announced soon.
Mr Bossley refused to comment and directed queries to Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.
Fiji Public Service Association general secretary Rajeshwar Singh welcomed the decision and urged the Government to carry out further changes at top management level.
Mr Singh said Mr Bossley's failure to settle company obligations could be a reason for his removal.
"I think his removal is for the better because since his appointment he was not able to deliver anything.
"This is a very good decision and Mr Bossley's replacement should take his cue that if they do not work, dialogue or negotiate, it will not be accepted."
Last month, the FPSA issued a strike notice for the company's failure to resolve outstanding issues dating back to 2000.
About 200 FPSA members are expected to walk off their jobs on August 29.
Mr Bossley was appointed chairman mid last year following the resignation of Rick Rickman.
It's believed Mr Rickman will hold the fort until an appointment is made.
Yesterday he was unavailable for comment.