Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has raised serious concerns about the use of the words ‘silly’ and ‘mouthing off’ by NZ Prime Minister, John Key when talking about Bainimarama and the Fijian government.
While speaking at the Joint Conference of the Fiji, Australia and New Zealand Business Councils at the Pearl Resort today, Bainimarama says these words are commonly used to describe a problem student or a wayward child.
He says when talking about the issue relating to the Public Order Act in Fiji, John Key made some comments last week.
Bainimarama says it certainly does not show appropriate respect for a sovereign nation and a democratically elected leader who is acting in the best interest of the Fijian people and the Fijian economy.
The Prime Minister stresses that the government is determined to ensure that civil unrests that have occurred in the past in Fiji, will never happen again.
Bainimarama says the Public Order Act exists to preserve public order and safety, and the act is there to protect the interests of every citizen because civil unrests have damaged the economy and people’s jobs.
Bainimarama says the Public Order Act then and now requires anyone wanting to hold a public meeting to apply to the Police for a permit.
He says this is to ensure that the Police are aware of what is happening and can allocate appropriate resources to cover any eventuality.
Bainimarama says the meeting on the 5th of September did not have a permit.
He stresses the people detained for questioning were well treated, their human rights were respected, they were not beaten up or man-handled.
Bainimarama questions why there are international statements about human rights abuses when the issue at hand is about a group of people not having a permit under the Public Order Act.
The Prime Minister stresses that the government has delivered on its promise to turn Fiji to parliamentary rule with the country’s first genuine democracy of equal suffrage - equal votes of equal value.
Bainimarama says he has already stated to NZ Prime Minister, John Key that Fiji is eager to let bygones be bygones and move forward together to a greater level of understanding.
He says this requires a greater degree of mutual respect in the conduct of our relationships with Australia and NZ.
Bainimarama also says that the Public Order Act will be reviewed by parliament, and Australia, NZ and other countries should let this take its course.
The Prime Minister also made it clear that Fiji has never lectured to Australia, NZ or any other country about human rights abuses in their own countries.
