The Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama has stressed that Fiji will go to the polls in March 2009 and said he does not know why the other Leaders keep saying he is not committed to this date.
Speaking to our news Director Vijay Narayan in Nuku'alofa last night, Commodore Bainimarama said the interim government is doing everything to ensure elections are held and they can not understand what more needs to be done.
“To tell you the truth I really don’t know what we really need to do. I got really disappointed when people said we need to show concrete element into heading to the polls. What are the concrete evidence do we need. We have had census, electrol boundaries commission. The boundaries commission has been nominated. We are all system go, I don’t know what else they need. Do they want us to have elections tomorrow. What else do they want us to do? to show them concrete evidence regardless of the polls in 2009....full stop, we are firm on that, the government is firm on that that, we are going to have the polls in 2009”.
Commodore Bainimarama, who met with Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon late yesterday also revealed that while they do not agree on certain issues, there is development as further talks are expected.
“We sat and had a good chat...it was good we had some disagreements but we also had some agreements we have come to the conclusion that we should talk more often from now before we leave the commonwealth. I am sorry I am not in a position to tell you but I think they were not major they were very minor and he didn’t make a full commitment for example he attacked the suspension on technical assistance but he came up with some suggestions in bridging the gap”.
The Interim Prime Minister also said that there is still time for genuine dialogue with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and Australian Foreign Minister Alexandra Downer who have not spoken to Commodore Bainimarama since the meeting started.
“In the contract of the forum they said we want general dialogue especially Australian and New Zealand so I’m not here to force anything on anyone. I’m here to listen and hopefully people can come on our side”.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clarke and Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer had yesterday confirmed that they would not boycott any Forum meetings simply because of Bainimarama's presence.
The Forum continues today with the Leader Retreat to Vavau Island in Tonga where face to face to talks between various leaders is scheduled throughout today.
We will have more reports for you from Tonga throughout the day.
Environmental Actitivists from Greenpeace this morning held up two huge banners to try and attract the attention of the Pacific Islands Leaders as they flew off to Vavau for the Leaders Retreat this morning.
The banners which read, " Drowning Islands, Stolen Fish," are seven meters long in length, and Greenpeace Spokesperson Josephine Prasad says there plan worked as leaders saw the banners as they are not permitted to go to Vavau.
Prasad said a Greenpeace report on the impacts of over fishing and need for the environmental conversation was handed to the leaders earlier this week. She says they hope leaders discuss the bread and butter issues affecting people in the region at the Leader Retreat and give their concerns due consideration.
For more pictures on 38th Pacific Islands Leaders Forum, click on the photo gallary in the above menu bar.
