Fiji Back In Business

THE GUARDED optimism of Mr Russell Leitch, president of the Australia Fiji Business Council, is an accurate reflection of the feelings of all of Fiji’s friends and business partners. The essence of Mr Leitch’s message to Fiji (see our story on Page 32) is this: “There are many problems still unsolved, but you have splendid resources, a strong and willing workforce, sugar is in good shape, the tourists are trickling back ... now is the best time you’ll have to recover”. Clearly, these are all reasons why smiles are at last returning to Fijian faces.

But Mr Leitch knows the battle to return Fiji to pre coup levels of prosperity is far from won. Rather, the opening shots have just been fired. He is under no illu sions. Nor is Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Fiji’s Prime Min ister. In his ringing address to the nation (which we publish on Page 35) he, while brimming with confidence over Fi ji’s potential for recovery, does not try to sweep the prob lems of his country under the carpet. Lingering racial bitterness, the brain drain, the country’s tourist image and many other bugbears all have to be put to rights.

This frank message was also the theme of his talks with political leaders in Great Britain and France. Ratu Mara’s honesty is, to many, every bit as encouraging as rising trade and tourism figures. It signifies that the polemical and pie-in-the-sky rhetoric that has riddled many Fijian lead ers’ public utterances since the May 14,1987, coup has been assigned to the same scrap heap where today rust the dis credited revisionist dreams of the Taukei.

There is no place for false and unrealistic hopes in post coup Fiji. The situation is far too serious. And those run ning the nation know it. They also know that Fiji’s only chance is for everyone indigenous Fijian, Indian Fi jian, neighbours and allies to work together long, hard and harmoniously for the greater good of the Republic. □