please stand?

Editorial

Can the “real men” please stand?

SOME Pacific Island leaders have a very nasty habit of behaving like naughty husbands - charm ing their way through cata strophes and meanwhile

screwing everyone over. Take Fiji for

example.

In order to jump-start the economy, the government has often stated that the size of the public sector needs to be reduced, freeing up the funds for other areas.

However, no progress seems to have been made towards this end.

The public sector is still monstrous, the government is virtually leading a hand-to-mouth existence, and any hopes of achieving a balanced budget have been thrown out the window.

How any minister can stand up in par liament and proclaim that they have done well for the country’s economy is beyond the realm of reasonable people.

Many reports, including those of the World Bank, the IMF, and the Bank of Hawaii, have stated that, during the 19905, the standard of living in Fiji has dropped.

Some may argue that this is based on figures which are averaged out for the entire population.

Yes, that is correct, and to give the government credit, there are some people who are now better off. Some of them can be seen driving into the Parliament com plex when Fiji’s highest body is sitting.

But just like the forgiving wife, the people of the country have believed the government’s promise to reform.

Many people have even wanted to believe the classic naughty husband line

of “it will never happen again”.

But happen again, it does. And again, and again, and again...

It seems that, like the

forgiving wife, the people of Fiji have somehow managed to turn a blind eye to the activities of government - the extra overseas trips, the lack of reform, the high telecommunication costs, the long waiting period to get services, the water cuts, the millions of pot-holes in Fiji’s roads.

But one thing that has to be remem bered is that the government-people rela tionship, just like conventional mar riages, has a breaking point. Every few years, the people of Fiji get to choose their new partner.

Which way will the forgiving wife will go this time - with the fat, over spending, naughty husband or a faithful, more efficient, trimmer husband? ■