Page 12 - IB December 2022

Fiji Fiji

Rabuka noting in his address to the nation, “You totally “We are not going to be vindictive. Let’s look out for each
rejected reckless attempts to create fear and disruption by other, help one another and love each other as we move
spreading lies alleging racial persecution and harassment in forward together,” the new Minister for Rural and Maritime
the aftermath of the election.” Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka told
That’s not to say that there has not been ethnically-based staff members of the Ministry.
vitriol displayed on social media. Supporters of the new However, the Police Commissioner’s professional future is
government, and coalition members themselves, have vowed unclear. The new Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration,
there would not be a witch-hunt of supporters or alleged Pio Tikotikodua, tweeted that he had invited Commissioner
benefactors and beneficiaries of the previous government. Qiliho to resign, citing “concerns on matters of confidence.”

THE NEW GOVERNMENT’S
PRIORITIES

In his first ‘Address to the Nation’, Prime
Minister Sitiveni Rabuka undertook that
his government would:

● Convene a ‘great citizens’ assembly’ to seek
ideas from a wide cross section of Fijians on
building a “better, more prosperous and hap-
pier nation”;
● Establish specialist reviews relating to the
Constitution and legal reform, the economy,
defence and national security, and “a forensic
examination of the spending of the FijiFirst
government”;
● Review investments in land, especially the
large areas administered by the i-Taukei Land
Trust Board (iTLTB);
● Study contentious laws to determine whether
they should be repealed or amended;
● Enquire into the overall financial strength
of the Fiji National Provident Fund and the
impact of some of its decisions on individual
members and pensioners;
● Study the new financial arrangement for the
operations of the Lautoka and Ba Hospitals;
● Examine the disbursement of foreign aid
money;
● And look into concerns about certain media
outlets receiving substantial amounts of public
money.
He has also cleared the way for the University of
the South Pacific’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal
Ahluwalia, to return to Fiji; Ahluwalia was deport-
ed by the previous government in February 2021.
The new government has also undertaken to settle
Fiji’s outstanding F$90 million to USP.

12 Islands Business, December 2022