Cabinet Accepts Technical Assessment Report

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION

PRESS RELEASE

HEADLINE:

1. CABINET ACCEPTS TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

News in Brief :

(Tuesday June 19th 2007 No:795/IA) CABINET ACCEPT TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

Cabinet has today accepted in principle the Report of the Independent Technical Assessment of Election Timetable for Fiji. Cabinet has further agreed in principle that a parliamentary election in Fiji could be held in the first quarter of 2009.

The Report was commissioned by the Pacific Islands Forum-Fiji Joint Working Group on the Situation in Fiji and released on Thursday 7th June. Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

The Prime Minister said that this commitment in principle should be welcomed by the international community who should now come forward with their side of the deal to normalise their relations and help Fiji.

He said comments like those coming from the Australian Army Chief, Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy that there is a possibility of Australian troops being sent on peacekeeping operations to Fiji does not help Fiji at all.

“In fact, Lieutenant-General Leahy’s comments have done great injustice to Fiji.

“He is creating fear in the minds of investors and tourists, and in the process, undermining the already fragile economy of Fiji.”

“If our economy continues on a downward spiral, how can Fiji be expected to return to parliamentary democracy sooner rather than later,” he questioned.

“I urge authorities in our neighbouring countries, particularly Australia and New Zealand to be more sensitive, to understand the fundamentals and dynamics of Fiji’s situation and not to make conclusions in haste.”

The Prime Minister said that Fiji is a sovereign nation and we are capable of solving our problems on our own and finding a way forward.

“What we need is for them not to interfere in our domestic affairs as we proceed along the road to parliamentary elections.

“We need financial and technical assistance, but not at the expense of our sovereignty.”

The Prime Minister explained that the Assessment Team had concluded that before Fiji’s next parliamentary elections, there should be a redistribution of constituency boundaries following the 2007 census, an update of the registers of voters, and voters education and information programmes.

“The Team also stated that from a technical point of view, a parliamentary election in Fiji could be held in the first quarter of 2009.”

The Prime Minister said that the Report calls for the provision of International technical assistance for the boundary redistribution, voter registration update, voter education and information programmes, and to the Electoral Commission and the Elections Office.”

He said that the European Union, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Governments of USA, Australia and New Zealand have welcomed the Report and its findings.

“Based on these comments they have all sought commitment from the Interim Government for acceptance of the Report, particularly the findings that a parliamentary election in Fiji could be held in the first quarter of 2009.

“It is now for the European Union and Governments of Australia and New Zealand to provide Fiji financial and technical assistance for the convening of national census, boundary redistribution, voter registration, voter education and information programmes, to the Electoral Commission and the Elections Office.”

ENDS

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