Page 27 - IB January 2024

Renewable Energy Politics

Military Commander Jone Kalouniwai shows his support, as Rabuka ends the year with a visit to the army headquarters in Suva.
Photo: Government of Fiji’s Facebook page
ONE YEAR DOWN, A MIXED BAG OF

RESULTS FOR FIJI’S COALITION

By Jon Fraenkel impressive array of achievements. The draconian Media
Industry Development decree is gone, ending 16 years of
When Sitiveni Rabuka narrowly won the parliamentary vote press censorship. Even civil servants now feel free to talk to
to become Prime Minister a year ago on Christmas Eve 2022, the media. A fiscal crisis has been averted, after a successful
his position looked extremely precarious. With only a one-seat 2023-24 budget. Promises to overhaul tertiary scholarships
majority, the new coalition government seemed unlikely to have been kept and the University of the South Pacific has
survive a full four-year term. In January 2023, defiant press had its government grant restored. The retirement age has
conferences by outgoing Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama been raised to 60, honouring another campaign pledge. An
and a public statement by the military commander that electoral law that discriminated against women has been
was critical of the new government for transgressing the ditched. The provision of F$200 support for children returning
‘separation of powers’ suggested that the People’s Alliance to school in January 2023, now renewed also for 2024, and
Party-led government might be nipped in the bud. the reinstatement of Airport Terminal Services workers,
One year on, the political situation is much changed. In did much to undermine Opposition insistence that the new
December, the former ‘minister for everything’ Aiyaz Sayed- government was favouring only the rich. FijiFirst’s campaign
Khaiyum stepped down as General Secretary of FijiFirst, and trail claims that a Rabuka-led government would unleash a
in March defeated Prime Minister Bainimarama resigned from wave of victimisation against Fiji’s Indian community have
parliament, bringing an end to an era during which these proved false.
two men dominated Fiji politics. FijiFirst remains the largest To its critics, the government has repeatedly flouted the
party in parliament, but its leadership has been thoroughly 2013 Constitution and undermined the rule of law. The
overhauled. Powerful constitutional officeholders have rallied Attorney General’s proposals for constitutional reform were
behind the new order. Military Commander Jone Kalouniwai illegal, as was the reversion to use of the term ‘Fijian’
has publicly demonstrated his support, welcoming the to describe only indigenous citizens. The suspensions of
Prime Minister at a parade at the Queen Elizabeth Barracks the Commissioner of Police, the Supervisor of Elections
in December. The President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, has (now resigned), the Chief Justice (now deceased), the
shown no sign of buckling under pressure to censure the new Commissioner of Prisons (now resigned) and the Director of
administration. Public Prosecutions disregarded due process. Appointments
Nevertheless, assessments of that government’s at senior levels in the civil service have been criticised as
achievements over its first year differ greatly. discriminatory, either against Fiji Indians or expatriates.
To its supporters, the government has chalked up an Restoration of the Great Council of Chiefs is said to have

Islands Business, January 2024 27