Politician’s Priority, Fiji's future - says PM

Politician’s Priority, Fiji's future - says PM

Mon, 5 Mar 2001 09:41:05 +1200

PEOPLE'S COALITION GOVERNMENT, FIJI Issue No: 549 5 March 2001

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Priority is Fiji's future, says PM

The Prime Minister of Fiji, Mahendra Chaudhry says that the priority of politicians should be Fiji's future.

Chaudhry stated that the major crisis facing Fiji came in two forms: one, the totally wrecked economy, and two, the racial intolerance generated by the acts of the terrorists.

The economy has been wrecked and it will take many years to rebuild it, he stated. Without a vibrant economy, no one could ensure that the standard of living in Fiji could be raised. Job losses, cuts in employment hours, cuts in wages, rising prices, and the general loss of investor confidence in Fiji dooms the nation to a cycle of poverty unless urgent action was taken on this front.

On reconciliation, the Prime Minister stated that there has to be restitution to those who have suffered from the actions of the terrorists and others associated with them. This process has to begin immediately, and the government must spend considerable resources on this.

Chaudhry stated that there was no winner in the actions of the terrorists. The ordinary person, of every ethnic group, was the greatest loser.

The reconvening of the Parliament was the first priority now, he said. Once the Parliament is reconvened, then other matters will follow.

END

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