Bainimarama Appeals To Qarase Over True Democracy

PM Appeals To Qarase To Join The Process To True Parliamentary Democracy

Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has reiterated his call for Qarase and other critics of the Interim Government to join the process towards moving the country forward not only towards the General Elections which is still scheduled for 2009, but more importantly towards building a democratic society that promotes true unity and improved socio-economic growth and equitable prosperity

Speaking from Singapore while on a fact-finding mission to what is widely regarded as one of the world's most efficient and progressive countries, Commodore Bainimarama said that Qarase and the other critics would do better for themselves and the nation as a whole if they re-directed the high level of energy they have spent on criticising the Interim Government to more meaningful use.

"I appeal to them, with a renewed sense of urgency, for them to be true leaders as they seem to purport and join the process that is now already in place in taking the nation forward," Bainimarama said.

"They should stop deluding themselves by thinking that the country will return to pre-December 2006 status where there was repugnant racial discrimination, an alarmingly high level of official corruption in both the public and private sectors, and a very slow return to better economic growth. All these have been due to very poor leadership and a seriously misguided SDL-led Government," Commodore Bainimarama said.

"Qarase and the other critics' fervent but fruitless requests to return the country to pre-December 2006 status will be like returning to square one, which I strongly believe no Fiji citizen in his or her right mind will want to endure again," he said.

"Even the international community recognises that there is no turning back now. They are beginning to open up their doors and are slowly helping Fiji's return to parliamentary democracy. So Qarase and other like-minded persons should seriously take up the offer and join the many enlightened and brave individuals and organizations that have now come together to move the nation forward. The door to the National Council for Building a Better Fiji is still open to them," Commodore Bainimarama said.

"The least they can do for themselves and the nation as a whole is to join hands in moving Fiji forward," the Prime Minister said.

ENDS

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