FT: Prime Minister, congratulations with getting over that first hurdlewith 41 votes in the Government’s favour. What are the next steps for the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025 following its tabling in Parliament?

PM: We will follow the normal processes for dealing with Bills tabled for Debate and Passage through Parliament – The second reading and debate, as laid down under Standing Orders Sections 85 to 89, except that in the case of a Bill to Amend the Constitution, it is also bound by some special provisions of the Constitution Sections 159 and 160 with their specific “super” majority requirements. These will have to be mastered cleverly – whether within Parliament only or to the public to solicit their support in case we have to get the super majority as required by the Constitution, in a referendum.

FT: Was the government expecting the support of four Opposition members for this Bill? How do you interpret their stance on the matter?

PM: It must be understood that last night’s (Wednesday, March 5) vote on the motion from the Leader of Government Business in the House, Hon Ro Filipe Tuisawau, was to suspend Standing Orders to allow me to move the first reading of the Bill to Amend the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, and it only needed a simple majority of the members of the House.

FT: Work must have gone into garnering that additional support. If so, is it correct to assume that the Group of Nine who recently joined the government, delivered?

PM: Not only the Group of Nine – all government members, even I, had spoken to some members of the Opposition explaining the need to go forward in governance embracing the need for bipartisan efforts as we now get into the real ‘grind’ of working on the Amendment of the Constitution and the National Truth and Reconciliation et cetera.

Only a day before the Bill was brought for first reading, the Hon Leader of the Opposition, Hon Inia Seruiratu, sent me a letter, delivered by his Opposition Whip, Hon Jone Usamate, asking for a meeting to discuss issues that needed bipartisan discussions on the important matters before us now.

I arranged for leaders lunch and meeting where we emphasised the need for bipartisanship, sadly, before the end of the day we were exchanging verbal daggers and arrows on one of the most important issues we agreed to approach on a bipartisan basis.

FT: Constitutional Amendments and Coup Accountability – Tai Smith of Nasinu Secondary School proposes that the Constitution should include a clause holding coup perpetrators and their associates accountable, requiring a unanimous parliamentary vote and at least 400,000 citizen submissions. Would your government support such an amendment. Do you believe coups should be formally classified as acts of treason?

PM: Coups, Coup d’etat means a blow against the State therefore classified as treason and the crime is adequately covered in the Laws of Fiji specifically Crimes Act 2009 Sections 63 to 71.

FT: How does the Government plan to address concerns that this amendment could centralise power within Parliament, reducing direct public participation in constitutional changes?

PM: The amendment does not take away direct public participation – it aims to reduce the super majority to a universally acceptable majority.

FT: What was Hon Sakiasi Ditoka’s reason for abstaining from the vote?

PM: Hon Ditoka had obtained my permission to be in Vanua Levu, but had overlooked to notify the Secretary-General so that he be recorded as absent rather than did not vote.

FT: What assurances can you give the public that future amendments to the Constitution will still be subject to rigorous scrutiny and broad consultation despite the removal of the referendum requirement?

PM: Government has not avoided the referendum requirement, and if it has to be amended, it will have to be changed in accordance with the law and constitutional requirements.

FT: Those Expatriates – Tukai Lagonilakeba of Nadi questions the reliance on expatriates in key positions. He asks, why do expats come and go while highly qualified locals are often overlooked? What is being done to prioritise local expertise?

PM: I had answered this question from Lagonilakeba – all positions are internationally advertised and selection is always based on merit.

FT: Sir, upon your return to Fiji, you met with the CEO of Fiji Airways amid reports that he may be departing. In your discussions, did you specifically inquire whether there is an established succession plan to mentor and prepare a qualified local candidate to assume this leadership role?

PM: I did not ask whether he was leaving and he did not say he was, therefore there was no need to ask if he had a succession plan in place, but every organisation has its own succession plan, and they are subject to the laws governing the organisation.

FT: Failed Priorities – Rajend Naidu of Sydney, a vocal critic of the previous administration, acknowledges that the current Government inherited significant challenges. However, he argues that failed priorities have marked the People’s Coalition Government’s time in power. How do you respond to this assessment?

PM: Mr Naidu has not been fair and objective in his observations. I would simply ask him to read Hon DPM Prasad’s response to the motion to thank His Excellency the President for his most gracious address, and see for himself DPM Prasad defend the Government’s economic management policies with figures showing that we have not had ‘failed priorities’.

FT: Critical Public Services – Ashwini Basant highlights a power blackout that disrupted an open surgery and raises concerns about teacher shortages in schools. She asks, “What next, Sir?” How does the Government plan to prevent such crises in essential services?

PM: The Government has always endeavoured to ensure that there are back-up power supply means at critical public facilities, especially hospitals where major electrically powered medical procedures are performed. Where, and if, there have been power outages and failures of back-up supplies (Ms Basant should give me examples, if she has) it could have been local human accidents.

FT: Illegal Public Transport Operators – Navneet Ram of Lautoka raises concerns about private vehicles operating illegally as public transport, commonly known as “pari”. Given that taxi operators must apply and pay for permits, where is the fairness in this? How will the Government ensure these illegal operators comply with regulations, including third-party insurance?

PM: I encourage Mr Ram to report them. Law enforcement agents do not rely on Letters to the Editor to initiate investigations, they patrol the streets to see if any person is breaking the law, but also to prevent people breaking the law. In some cases they may be able to identify vehicles that may create reasonable suspicions that some laws may have been breached, in which case they could investigate or question suspects to determine if crimes or offences have been committed.

Law enforcement is a public responsibility and done by co-operation between the people and Government.

FT: Political transparency and accountability – Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane references calls for transparency from Hon Seruiratu, who did not practice the same when he was a minister in the previous government. He suggests that politics is simply about playing one’s cards right. How do you respond to concerns that transparency is often just political rhetoric?

PM: I encourage Tikomaibolatagane to be specific and not generalise in his attack on Hon Seruiratu, or anyone else, for that matter, and specifically call out public figures on specific lapses in their performances.

FT: Sir, politics is often likened to a game of strategy – one where playing your cards right determines the outcome. In the intricate chessboard of governance, which moves are you carefully planning, and which pieces are you holding close to your chest as you navigate the country’s political landscape?

PM: Politics was never a cloak and dagger game. Governments govern and propose policies and enact laws that support their elections manifesto, although the mechanics may not be obvious to observers thus the belief that it is a game of strategy – one where playing your cards right determines the outcome is quite common.

FT: Tax on Suki – Kiran Khatri asks why there is no tax on suki (loose tobacco). Would your Government consider imposing such a tax?

PM: Suki producers are subsistence farmers and process them at home like cassava and dalo et cetera, farmers who produce them, process them at the farm (clean, bind et cetera) then take it to the market – should they be taxed?

FT: Drug testing for officials – Mohammed Janif of Natabua, Lautoka notes that drug tests are conducted on athletes and drivers. Would your Government consider mandatory drug testing for Cabinet ministers and other high-ranking officials to ensure integrity in leadership?

PM: The Constitution protects our rights to liberty unless (S9.(1) (e) that person is reasonably suspected of having committed an offence).

FT: Need for Realignment – Samu Silatolu of Nasinu argues that successive governments have failed to fix core issues such as: water and road infrastructure; citing the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) and the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA). He asks if a fundamental paradigm shift in governance is inevitable. How will the Government ensure that no one is left behind in its pursuit of economic growth, security, and prosperity, especially in rural and underprivileged communities?

PM: Silatolu should know that fix implies an action taken after a fault is acknowledged. Government can only take the initiative in building public infrastructures, and when they fall into states of disrepair, then they are fixed.

Governments are limited by their own revenue collection capacities and productions, so future or disaster proofing in small economies like Fiji is likewise limited, and limited to fixing problems after they are reported.

FT: What measures are in place to help citizens cope with rising costs due to global economic challenges, such as inflation and supply chain disruptions?

PM: We can only encourage increasing and diversifying local productions to reduce imports that produce imported inflation directly resulting from high costs in producing countries, compounded by logistics costs in importation, increasing landed cost upon which custom duty is assessed and the total used to calculate value added tax levied on consumers!

FT: How can Fijians actively contribute to building a more united and prosperous society beyond just relying on government policies?

PM: Genesis 3:19 “Out of the sweat of your brow shall you eat your food…”

FT: Sir, have you been briefed by the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources regarding the Fiji Labour Party’s allegations that gold ore is being moved out of the Vatukoula Gold Mine without due process? If so, what assurances can you provide to the public on the integrity and oversight of this matter?

PM: Yes. I believe he wants to sue them. All the activities FLP is reporting on Social Media, are within the law, and the assessment of levies stage is still to happen, where taxes and levies will be paid by the exporter.

FT: Commission of Inquiry Meeting – Rajend Naidu of Australia points out that you have yet to meet with the Commission of Inquiry team despite their request. He refers to this absence of a meeting as a political sidestep by you. Is it that, or is there another reason for the delay?

PM: Mr Naidu should know that the Commission is independent and must arrive at their findings without any undue influence from anyone else. Where the CoI needs my assistance in terms of the extra time they need or the extra costs required, they write to me and I tender my advice to His Excellency as required.

FT: Does the Government believe the extended timeline and additional expenses are justified in the public interest?

PM: Yes. The public interest, is to see the proper completion of the CoI, and we (the public) will have to pay for the additional expenses.

FT: The terms of reference required the Commission of Inquiry to report back to the President by January 31, yet it has sought multiple extensions. What is the justification for these delays. How does the Government ensure accountability in the process?

PM: They have not received the full co-operation of some agencies of Government and persons needed for the full and comprehensive and complete investigation of facts to be undertaken in order to arrive at conclusive findings.

FT: Given the broad scope of the inquiry, particularly regarding potential improper influence by high-profile individuals, has the Government received any preliminary findings or indications of serious concerns that warrant public disclosure?

PM: There will NOT be a preliminary finding.

FT: Prime Minister, Australia’s outgoing High Commissioner, Ewen McDonald, has been a trusted friend to both you and Fiji. You have previously spoken of him with great regard. Has that close relationship played a role in facilitating the government’s transition after 16 years under the previous administration? How would you reflect on his contributions. What are your hopes for his successor in strengthening Fiji-Australia relations?

PM: He has been a close friend who has served his country, a close and trusted friend of Fiji, to our fullest expectations.