Coalition Govt Doing Reasonably Well as it Approaches 100 Days
The 100th day is fast-approaching.
If we include Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, it falls on April 4 or thereabouts.
It means there are 15 more days to go before the coalition Government of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka does a review of its progress and achievements after Day 100.
It’s been an interesting start to a four-year journey and it appears at this stage that it’s business as usual, people are comfortable with the progress so far.
The mood is that people are just happy there is a change of Government.
It comes with relief and expectation that the new Government will do better than the previous Government by not repeating past mistakes.
There is a feeling of being free – a perception that people are free at last from the tight reins of the FijiFirst Government for eight years. It was generated by the various new laws it enacted in Parliament using its brute majority to facilitate the implementation of new policies that required parliamentary approval.
The speed in which they were done had created suspicion and contempt from the Opposition which wanted more discussion and debate on the issues.
The Opposition had contended that if they were important matters of public interests then they must be given time to go through the standing committee stages and public consultations.
But the FijiFirst government ignored it and operated on the belief that it had the mandate of the people to do what it did to fulfil its obligations to them.
Because of its reticent attitude, it was being perceived as arrogant, unco-operative to the idea of bipartisanship and it was dictatorial.
It became the core issue of the Opposition narrative that it was time to change the Government.
And change happened through the formation of the coalition Government even though FijiFirst won 26 seats in the 55-seat Parliament.
December 24, 2022
So when the new Government was sworn in on December 24, it moved to action, systematically dismantling what the previous Government had set up.
It lifted the ban on a number of Fijians and other nationalities from entering the country including the wife of the late historian Dr Brij Lal and University of the South Pacific Vice-Chancellor Pal Ahluwalia.
It also cleared the way for Ratu Tevita Mara, only surviving son of the founding father of Independent Fiji, the late Ratu Kamisese Mara, from returning to Fiji after his self exile in Tonga.
He escaped in a Tongan naval vessel more than a decade ago after he was charged with another military officer Pita Driti for planning to overthrow then military regime Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
First official international visit
Mr Rabuka made his first overseas visit as PM when he travelled to Tarawa and successfully convinced Kiribati President Taneti Maamau to get the tiny islands threatened by the encroaching sea caused by rising sea level, back into the fold of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Kiribati had pulled out last year when former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama was PIF chair in a dispute over the appointment of Henry Puna as PIF Secretary-General.
His second overseas trip was to attend the Oceans Conference in Panama where he said Fiji was ready to play its part to help Planet Earth and ensure its survival.
He called for solutions that were relevant and applicable to everyone’s interests in tackling the challenges.
While his ministers are gradually making progress in their respective areas, it is evident that some of the projects that may be on the 100-day to-do list will be practically impossible to accomplish.
This is understandable given their nature and the realities.
Vunivalu na Tui Kaba
The groundwork for the reinstatement of the Great Council of Chiefs is understood to be well underway.
It has been hastened by the installation of Bau chief Ratu Epenisa Cakobau as the new Vunivalu na Tui Kaba.
Also the surprise return to the country of Ratu Tevita who is set be installed as the new Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua o Lau (paramount chief of Lau) signals that vacant titles are being filled before GCC meets.
What a new chapter for the GCC if its first meeting is held on Bau with its rich history.
In fact Ratu Epenisa has given an open invitation to the Government to consider it if the GCC building complex in Nasova, Suva is not ready.
He is a direct descendant of the late Bau chief and Vunivalu, Ratu Seru Cakobau, who ceded Fiji to Great Britain in 1874.
Perhaps, Mr Rabuka’s significant achievement in his first three months in office is the feeling of unity he is able to generate with his “let love shine” approach.
He is reaching out across the political divide in his bid to build national unity although there are some elements in his camp who are out to seek political revenge.
His big challenge right now is the economy – the escalating cost of living and the debt level.
There is some suggestion to increase tax rates and generate needed revenue to fund development projects and service our burgeoning debt commitment.
He needs to tread carefully on this because Fijians are already suffering from rising costs and stagnant pay rates.
Some of the problems the country faces cannot be solved overnight. So far the Government is doing relatively well as it maintains services.