Under the FijiFirst two-man rule, there was no bipartisanship - Bulitavu

Former FijiFirst MP and current Minister for Environment and Climate Change Mosese Bulitavu has revealed that under the FijiFirst two-man rule, there was no bipartisanship.

While responding to President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu’s opening speech in Parliament, Bulitavu says opposition members were included in delegations but were never allowed to lead them.

He says powers in cross-party collaboration were deliberately avoided.

The Minister says independent members are in debt to the President as he was the one that saved them when the FijiFirst Party was de-registered last year.

Meanwhile, Bulitavu says Fiji is grappling with the escalating littering challenges to foster civic pride and promote collective responsibility.

He says the Ministry launched the “Do The Right Thing campaign” in January this year, encouraging every Fijian to take ownership of caring about their surroundings.

He adds under this campaign, the Ministry has held litter prevention officers LPO training for civil servants across the four divisions.

The Minister says should the Constitution Amendment Bill be introduced for the first reading, they have the opportunity to walk across the floor, and before proceeding to the second reading, they can invoke their Corridor Talks in Parliament, Standing Orders 129, to establish a special parliamentary committee to conduct public consultations and report back to Parliament if the Leader of the Opposition is really genuine about taking about a cross-the-floor bipartisanship this morning through the legislative framework that he talked about.

Bulitavu says this approach ensures national interest takes precedence over political division.

He adds the government is also open to genuine dialogue with the opposition at any venue comfortable to them, as these are matters that transcend party lines and demand their collective commitment as leaders and trust in Fiji's future.