Page 13 - IB December 2022

Fiji Fiji

Qiliho has reportedly indicated that he “prefers
the process that goes through the Constitutional
Offices Commission. “I respect that, and we will let
the law take its course,” the Minister stated.

Ministerial appointments: spreading the load
The new government has 19 Ministers and
ten assistant ministers, prompting the Prime
Minister to say, “Cabinet is larger than I initially
planned. Some of you will be concerned about
the cost. I confirm that in addition to the current
20% reduction imposed since March 2020, I am
proposing a further cut in the remuneration for all
Parliamentarians.
“I considered it necessary to appoint 10 Assistant
Ministers to provide additional ministerial power
needed for the enormous job of putting things right
in virtually all aspects of our nation’s life.”
While Rabuka references workload as a
justification for the large cabinet, giving every MP
of the coalition a task, means that he is creating
shared responsibility for government’s decisions
and work program.
The vastly expanded cabinet is a reminder of the
large number of portfolios concentrated in a few
hands in the previous government. Former Attorney
General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who has described
the cabinet as ‘lavish’, held six portfolios during
the previous government’s tenure.
The new government has reinstituted several
ministries not seen for many years, including a
Ministry of Multi-ethnic Affairs. Rabuka also has
three deputy Prime Ministers—one from each
coalition partner—PAP’s Manoa Kamikamica, the
NFP’s Professor Biman Prasad, and SODELPA’s
Viliame Gavoka. “The manifestos of the three
coalition partners are broadly similar. Our
arrangement for government draws on the
principles of mutual respect and cooperation,”
Rabuka stated in his address to the nation.
Under the coalition agreement, all government
MPs are to support Rabuka in any vote of no
confidence in the Prime Minister, and support any
government bills requiring a vote in parliament.
His predecessor and now opposition leader,
Voreqe Baimimarama, has referred to the coalition
as a “three uneven legged stool government”.
The new government, and all those working behind
the scenes in support of the new administration,
will be hoping those three legs remain firmly
planted and provide a stable foundation for a full
four-years of government. It is clear that will not
Photos from top left hand corner:
FijiFirst General Secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has called the new cabinet ‘lavish’, Supervisor of be an easy task.
Elections Mohammed Saneem, SODELPA MP and Deputy Prime Minister Bill Gavoka, Members of
the Multinational Observer Group (L-R) Dharmendra Sharma, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner
of India, Rebekha Sharkie MP, Parliament of Australia and Ambassador Muhsin Syihab of Indonesia editor@islandsbusiness.com
delivering their interim report, government coalition members on December 20th, leaders of
opposition political parties express their concern about the electoral process.

Islands Business, December 2022 13