9 years ago

From: The Fiji Times 9 years ago

Sir , Nine years have gone by since the coups of 1987. The country has achieved little in these years which it can be proud of. The lot of our common men, women and chil dren is much worse today than in 1987, and our ills are getting worse with the passage of time.

The global community is a multicul tural, multiracial, mutireligious, multi linguistic one, and cherishes diversity.

It is not prepared to tolerate racism and discrimination as was rigidly preached by the coup-makers. In this day and age, no country can expect to practise systematic discrimination and not suf fer global sanctions. The economy is stagnant with few investments.

Unemployment is rising. The long term future of the sugar industry looks bleak. There are uncertainties about land leases.

Crime is rising, more and more of our people fall into the poverty trap and the capacity of communities to take care of the elderly and the dis abled has diminished. I am convinced that these problems will get worse unless we bring non-communal solu tions to bear upon them. The interests that the different communities have in common far outweigh what some may perceive to be their separate interests.

We all want economic development and a prosperous Fiji which enjoys a respectable place in the modem world.

The truth about Fiji is that we are highly interdependent and that each community can progress only through co-operation with others.

All the people of Fiji have an inter est in having a fair and efficient admin istration. The initiative for this, as well as in other areas affecting our liveli hood, must come from the state.

Let us look with optimism to the future. The National Federation Party’s only platform in the last two. elections was to bring about meaningful changes to the constitution.

I am glad to note that much con structive work has been done by the party and its leader in this respect, and the nation is anxiously awaiting the report of the Constitution Review Commission. I hope that as time pass es, more and more people will see the truth of our assertion that our future as a multiracial country will depend very much on whether we are able to achieve a constitution which is accept able to the people of Fiji.

Shiu Charan

General Secretary National Federation Party