Mere Samisoni’s diatribes
Postdate: 22/ 01/ 2008
The Editor
Fiji Times
Suva
Mere Samisoni’s diatribes
Dear Sir,
Mere Samisoni’s lengthy letter (FT 22-Jan-08) appears to totally contradict its own final conclusions. She makes the call to build on the diversity and cultural competency … and tap the potential and social capital of our diverse human strengths and value systems. “More importantly, those actions must arise from a sincere heart if real, sustainable social trust is ever going to be built,” she says.
Ms Samisoni is reminded here that a sincere heart considers forgiveness – and she is encouraged to let go of her own anger and resentment, if she really wants to contribute to the progress of Fiji.
It defies logic how Ms Samisoni can in anyway, link CCF to the manner in which the Interim Attorney-General made appointments to the Constituency Boundaries Commission, the manner in which Interim Finance Minister has handled the Fiji Water fiasco, and the manner in which Minister Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi has handled the local municipal government issue.
CCF is on record of having described it as a breach of the Constitution, that the Constituency Boundaries Commission appointment was made without consultation of the Leader of Opposition, as required in the 1997 Constitution under a democratically elected parliament.
On the Fiji Water and local municipal government issues, CCF has so far not made any comments on either of the issues. It therefore defies logic as to how Mere Samisoni concludes that we may have some view on this issue.
Ms Samisoni is advised to read the local news widely so she can be aware of facts of matters, rather than relying on gossip and slander for information.
Is the Soqosoqo ni Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) party genuine about wanting to contribute to Fiji’s development and move the country forward, while acknowledging our diverse multi-cultural society and respecting the rule of law?
If SDL and Mere Samisoni are genuine in these endeavours, they should admit the wrongs that the SDL had done in the past six years – by promoting racist policies, condoning racist and hate speech in Parliament, releasing chiefs on compulsory supervision orders who were serving coup-related sentences in prison, and mismanagement of money. The agriculture scam is one such example that happened when Qarase was an Interim Prime Minister.
The dubious legal advice given by the former Attorney General in the SDL government, Qoriniasi Bale, is history. Qoriniasi Bale is on record of always making the excuse that it was difficult to interpret the 1997 Constitution and of always beating around the bush when questions on legal issues were asked. The Ratu Jope Seniloli case is one example where on Bale’s recommendation, Seniloli was released from prison on medical grounds. However, to date, Bale has not shown any medical documents which reveal what this medical ailment was.
As far as credibility goes, the CCF is of the view, that the SDL government was as much racked with lack of credibility as the current interim regime. The SDL and interim government are rather alike, except for one difference: the SDL promoted racist policies and did not want to work with the military to find a solution to the problem of coups; whereas the Interim Government is against racist policies and wants to work with all the different stakeholders in Fiji including the SDL as well, to find a solution to move the country forward from coups and economic regress.
It is for this reason that the CCF is supporting the National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF). And I repeat John Kennedy’s famous line, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what can you do for your country”. I ask the SDL to support the Charter process and show us, what you can contribute to the development of our beloved country.
Rev. Akuila Yabaki,
CEO, CCF