Fiji welcomed back to the

Editorial

Fiji welcomed back to the Commonwealth

Fiji’s return to the Commonwealth of Nations is as welcome as it is overdue. The former British colony has always treasured its links to the crown there has been a certain yearning to return to the Commonwealth since Fiji’s membership was allowed to lapse after the coups of 1987.

Renewed membership achieves a number of benefits - regional as well as global - for Fiji.

For a start Fiji has now rejoined most of its South Pacific Island neighbours - not forgetting Australia and New Zealand - in the 54-

state grouping.

Though Fiji has always remained a leading member of region al institutions such as the South Pacific Forum, the country’s return to the Commonwealth can only strengthen the region’s standing in

that organisation.

In world terms, Fiji again has access to a powerful grouping that has had direct influence on world events while providing a powerful voice for small developing nations.

Fiji’s membership brings access to development assistance and to a shared experience of problems and how they may be addressed.

The Commonwealth is often criticised - by members and non members - as being little more than a talking shop, a club for for mer British colonies. While there may be a grain of justification for that, the Commonwealth’s achievements - in South Africa, for instance - cannot be overlooked.

Any grouping that brings together such a number and range of nations cannot help but have at least some influence on global events and development.

And renewed membership for Fiji is very obvious recognition of the nation’s achievements and progress over the past 12 months.

At considerable political risk to themselves - a risk that has by no means diminished - the prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka and the opposition leader Jai Ram Reddy combined to break the logjam that prevented reform of Fiji’s flawed 1990 constitution.

They deserve their moment on the world stage. ■