People who are Questioning PM’s Decisive Leadership, Whereabouts Must have had their Blinkers on
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has not gone AWOL (Absent Without Leave) as some people claim.
They question his decisive leadership and whereabouts.
But they must have had their blinkers on. If they didn’t then, it would not have been difficult to notice that Mr Bainimarama has been busy leading from the front and visible too.
We know there may be many people out there at their wits end. As they struggle to make ends meet and survive this COVID-19 pandemic it’s contagious to blame others for their predicament.
Usually, the Government becomes the favourite target because it’s easy to do so as it is the guardian of public funds and welfare.
But to attack Mr Bainimarama for inaction is baseless and simply untrue as the facts show. He is not locked up in his office or at home.
If his critics had their eyes open they would have seen him at the frontlines visiting the brave officers manning their posts and risking their lives for the rest of the country - not once but several times.
He too risked infection by visiting them to cheer them up and lift their morale. But he was masked and now he is fully vaccinated with two jabs.
Again he and wife Mary are leading by example as they urge the country to get vaccinated and follow all protocols and precautions.
He has gone on radio, television and used the print media to rally the country to stand together in solidarity and fight this war against the killer virus.
He preached the message of hope, resilience and compassion amid the negativity of his critics and prophets of doom.
He addressed the iTaukei listeners in the radio programme Lalakai because resistance against vaccination and other measures is primarily coming from that community.
As an iTaukei himself he feels it’s his responsibility to deal with this conflict because it’s slowing down the momentum of the campaign to vaccinate the target group and contain the spread of the virus.
It’s complicated by sensitivity around religious and cultural beliefs and practices. Non-iTaukei may not be aware of efforts that he puts in to correct misconceptions and guide people away from their defiant position on falsehoods.
Mr Bainimarama has shown decisive leadership by the host of measures announced to contain the community spread of the virus. His latest was the legislation to compel workers to get vaccinated or lose their jobs.
He opted for no full lockdown but a targeted and controlled regime of measures to keep people safe but allow movement for essential purposes. The idea is that if we can manage it then we can live with COVID-19 like Singapore has done and other countries such as the United Kingdom are planning to implement.
The bottom line here is that the success of any programme depends on people’s individual integrity to comply with the rules and protocols.
People need to realise that Mr Bainimarama must ensure in addition to COVID-19, that the normal functions of Government must be maintained.
If you are not aware Mr Bainimarama has also been engaged in top level meetings with international organisations and foreign governments on climate change, trade, defence and security and other global issues. Some of the meetings are included here;
Pacific-UK High Level Climate Dialogue
Mr Bainimarama as the chair of the Pacific Small Island Developing States joined Pacific Leaders and the UK virtually to discuss the priorities ahead of COP26 to be held in Glasgow in November, 2021.
He joined leaders in calling for a collective and urgent action to confront climate change and highlighted that the global average temperature is now at 1.2 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels and we are already seeing devastating impacts across the world.
Pacific Island Forum Leaders and Japan at the PALM 9 Meeting
The Pacific Island Forum Leaders and Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga convened the 9th Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting with a renewed commitment to sustainable recovery and resilience through regional solidarity.
Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit
Fiji joined its international and regional development partners at the 2nd P4G Summit, ‘Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030,’ hosted by the Government of the Republic of Korea in May.
Mr Bainimarama joined global leaders, international organisations, businesses, and civil societies worldwide with a collective resolve to, “Build Back Better and Greener.”
Fiji also affirmed its commitment to enhance engagement opportunities for shared goals on climate change and SDGs.
Commonwealth Pacific Leaders Regional Roundtable
The meeting, which was convened by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was attended by Mr Bainimarama virtually.
He reaffirmed Fiji’s stance to continue to chart the way forward in its commitment to stronger nationally-determined contributions under the Paris Agreement and committed to planting 30 million trees and sustainably manage our vast ocean space by 2030.
People’s Republic of China
The People’s Republic of China has pledged greater support to Fiji in building back better with accelerated response to contain COVID-19, sustainable and resilient economic recovery advancement and tackling climate change.
This message was conveyed by Chinese President Xi Jinping last month while on a phone call with Mr Bainimarama.
New Zealand
Mr Bainimarama conveyed his appreciation to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for their timely support.
In a telephone conversation on May 14th, he thanked Ms Ardern and the people of New Zealand for standing in solidarity with Fiji.
The New Zealand Government offered Fiji a grant contribution of NZ$40m (approximately FJ$60m) in budget support in response to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Zealand is also contributing a vaccine support package of 500,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and grant funding of NZ$2 million support for vaccine delivery.
Australia
Australia’s commendable efforts through swift assistance to Fiji is a testament of the unbreakable bond of friendship and exemplary collaboration achieved through the Vuvale Partnership.
In a phone call with his counterpart, Mr Bainimarama conveyed his appreciation to the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Australian Government for their remarkable support to Fiji at this time of great need.
Mr Bainimarama said Fiji was grateful for Australia’s efficient response in providing 320,000 doses of Australian manufactured AstraZeneca vaccines.
The support has been mobilised after Mr Morrison’s commitment to assist Fiji with one million doses of vaccines.
United States of America
Fiji and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen bilateral engagements and partnership in fighting climate change, protecting oceans and biodiversity and in COVID-19 recovery.
Mr Bainimarama and the United States Special Presidential Envoy on Climate, Secretary John Kerry discussed aspirations to advance Fijian and US relations.
Meanwhile, on the local front he visited isolation facilities and frontline health workers at the Fiji Emergency Medical Assistance Team (FEMAT) field hospital at the Vodafone Arena, the MV Veivueti Medical Ship docked at the Government Wharf in Walu Bay and the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Intensive Care Unit.