Fiji's New Chief

Dismay Over

Secretary

From a Suva Correspondent The news that Mr. G. P.

Lloyd, Chief Secretary of the Seychelles, is to become Fiji’s new Chief Secretary in succes sion to Mr. P. D. Macdonald, has caused some dismay in Fiji. npHIS is not because of any -*■ objection to Mr. Lloyd, but because most people—including, one suspects, the Governor—thought that the new post would go to Mr. J. S.

Thomson, who has been acting in the post for some time.

But Mr. Thomson is to be posted elsewhere—to a “senior appointment”, says the official statement. Mr.

Thomson’s new senior appointment may well mean he is being groomed for stardom and that he could come back to Fiji eventually as Governor (if we still have Governors).

Mr. Lloyd’s appointment could mean that he is being groomed for stardom somewhere else and that to get promotion he must go via Fiji.

But few people seem to be looking at either of those eventualities—they simply want Mr. Thomson in the post.

Ratu K. K. T. Mara, now Leader of Government Business, has asked the Governor on behalf of his majority Alliance party to try to retain him.

He says there is “deep dismay” that Mr. Thomson is being trans ferred and that his experience is needed in the present transitional period of government. His transfer would be “most inopportune”.

Mr. Lloyd, by the way, is 40. He is a former District Officer in Kenya and has been in the Seychelles since 1961. He is expected in Fiji in mid- December.

Modern kings and queens don't ride in golden coaches. Sometimes you see them in a Mini-Moke as for instance King Taufa'ahau of Tonga, here seen being driven around the exhibits of the 1966 Agricultural Show in Nukualofa in November. The umbrella is not standard Mini-Moke equipment. In front with the driver is King Taufa'ahau's ADC, Tevita Fatafehi, and with the King is Masao Soakai, of the Agriculture Department.

Photo: Hettig.