The Prime Minister's comments about me losing my cabinet seat but remaining as a backbencher in parliament is strange and bewildering because I hold a position that SODELPA agreed to, whereby we were assigned 3 ministerial positions which is part of the Coalition Agreement following the People’s Alliance Party's approach to SODELPA.
Those are the comments of Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro following comments made by Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan on why he was earlier intending to change the Education Minister.
Radrodro says the Prime Minister’s comments can only happen if SODELPA agrees to such a situation where it would have to first determine his performance.
The Minister says he is comfortable that SODELPA’s management board, which he has a lot of respect for, will be able to determine his work ethics and outputs, and will know how to handle any concerns raised to it according to law.
Radrodro says as it stands, he hopes that everyone will uphold the coalition agreement and lead without malice.
The Minister for Education adds he is a party man, and for him, his loyalty is to SODELPA and the people of Fiji, and until SODELPA says otherwise, he will be loyal and serve the Coalition Government faithfully and to his best.
Radrodro says the Prime Minister has made some comments about his work performance, and obviously he cannot discuss it in public, given that they have a ministerial code of conduct and confidentiality, which they all must abide by.
However Radrodro says he must make it known that the responsibility of his role as a Minister weighs heavily on his conscience each day and given he is guided by the Education Act that provides for what he is empowered to do or not to do as a line Minister.
In his response, Radrodro says he does his best to be diligent, fair, consultative and responsive to all the stakeholders especially the children, teachers, parents, guardians and school management including the teacher unions and associated institutions.
He says if he has fallen below that standard at any time, then he appreciates being advised accordingly, which he accepts as constructive criticism, allowing him to take corrective measures where mandated by law.
The Minister says he thanks the people for their steadfast faith, and he asks that we all continue to pray for our nation and its leaders.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says coalition members have those ministries and he expects them to perform well and if they do not, he brings it to the Minister’s attention and also to the attention of the political party leader.
While responding to questions on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan on the reasoning behind changing the Minister for iTaukei Affairs and the Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro, Rabuka says there were a few things Radrodro did not implement as Minister for Education based on the instructions of the Prime Minister.
Rabuka says Radrodro has explained to him but the explanations were not really satisfactory so he has given him time to abide by his instructions.
He says he is not abiding by his instructions yet and has promised to do right but he has not.
When questioned what the instructions are, Rabuka says those are inter-ministerial concerns and he not looking at it as a leadership and a coalition concern.
He says SODELPA Leader, Viliame Gavoka has taken upon himself to ensure Radrodro abides by the law.
Rabuka says if Radrodro says he will not be able to do it, Rabuka will take the next step and remove him from cabinet but stay in Parliament as it is a party issue and not the Prime Minister’s issue.
We are currently trying to speak to Aseri Radrodro.
While speaking during a press conference, FijiFirst MP Jone Usamate says Rabuka’s response has again raised questions as the agreement between the coalition parties was that these portfolios be given to SODELPA.
He says that is what he is concerned about.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
