Bold, Decisive and Compassionate Leadership Mark Bainimarama’s Terms in Office as We Celebrate Fiji Day
Ignore criticism from his political detractors. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama deserves recognition for his bold, decisive and compassionate leadership.
As we celebrated Fiji Day yesterday it must be noted that his outstanding management of the
COVID-19 crisis on top of climate change had been a hallmark of his leadership in the last two years.
It has not been easy since winning in the 2018 election and then losing ground in his national ranking. But there are clear signs that he is bouncing back.
Promoting unity despite political conflicts
On this 51st anniversary celebration of our Independence as a sovereign nation, he gets credit for pressing on to promote the concept of unity and one nation of rich diversity despite conflicting and confusing messages from his political opponents
But where he has really established his mark is during this COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. This twin challenge is massive and he is not alone on facing up to it. His counterparts in neighbouring Australia and New Zealand are facing similar challenges.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has followed the same road that Mr Bainimarama’has taken in dealing with COVID-19. Australia is resigned to the fact that it can’t eliminate the killer virus and it has to learn to live with it. Now New Zealand Prime Ministet Jacinder Ardern is heading in the same direction.
The policy of lockdown, while it has done good, will not totally remove the virus. Mr Bainimarama and his team have learned from Singapore, Israel and other countries that have adopted the same strategy to protect their economies.
In New Zealand many businesses in the tourism and hospitality industries have warned that if the lockdown continues they would eventually collapse.
Today Ms Ardern will announce the future of the lockdown as daily positive cases continue to climb in Auckland.
Vaccination importance
But like Fiji, New Zealand and Australia are urging their people to get vaccinated as the only way to protect them and their livelihoods
Fiji is well ahead on vaccination rate having reached 80 per cent of the target population receiving the two jabs.
This led to the reopening of local borders and business activities despite criticism from the Opposition which said it was the wrong move.
National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad said we should take our cue from New Zealand and institute a lockdown. But Mr Bainimarama, acting on scientific research outcomes and expert advice from health professionals, plus the experience of some overseas countries, decided that lockdown was not the way to go.
Although the local borders are open and freedom of movement is restored in Viti Levu certain safety protocols are still in force.
Mr Bainimarama yesterday announced the other positive outcomes from the reopening of the border including a projection to reopen the international border.
This will open the way for tourists especially from Australia and New Zealand to return and holiday at our tourist resorts.
At the height of the outbreak here Mr Bainimarama risked his own life by frequently visiting our frontline workers and giving them moral support and leadership.
He also visited other sites where new Government projects had been set up. There is no let up on his field visits and leadership.
On the climate change front, Mr Bainimarama has continued from where he left off at COP 23 in Bonn Germany.
He has rallied his regional colleagues in the Pacific Islands Forum to present a strong voice at COP26 in Scotland about reducing carbon emissions to lower global warming because time is running out. As Fiji completes the first year of the second 50 years of its Independence, Mr Bainimarama has put us on a firm footing, positioning us to take advantage of new opportunities.
And he has seen us through an unprecedented global pandemic.