Aust High Commission tightlipped

The Australian High Commission in Fiji has opted not to comment on concerns raised by Fiji's Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama that misleading information is being fed by the officials to the Australian government.

Spokesperson Dennis Rounds said the Acting High Commissioner Sarah Roberts will not respond to Commodore Bainimarama's comments.

The New Zealand High Commission said they are still looking through the comments made by Commodore Bainimarama before making any comments.

Meanwhile, speaking to our news director Vijay Narayan, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has raised the question on where the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Tuiloma Neroni Slade is getting the information that the situation has worsened in Fiji.

Following the Forum Ministerial Contact Group meeting in Auckland earlier this week, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith revealed that Slade had presented a report to the group that the situation has worsened in Fiji.

Commodore Bainimarama said it is clear that Slade is actively working against Fiji and was also allegedly behind the plans to try to shift the Forum Secretariat from Suva.

He said the Forum Secretariat should be actively trying to enhance trade in the Pacific but Commodore Bainimarama said it is clear that Slade is opting to leave Fiji out of the trade talks.

Commodore Bainimarama also raises the question on where Slade got his information to present to the Forum Group since he has had no talks with him since he took over the position.