Interim prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, today delivered a
national address outlining his administration's commitment to
running the country until a new constitution is in place, even
as rebel leader George Speight and the military concluded
talks this afternoon that could lead to the dissolution of the
five-day army-appointed caretaker government.
Full text of the speech inside.
The last 52 days have been trying times for our country .The
pangs of our birth as a nation are still very much a realities we
must cope with. We are going through a crisis which is really a
crisis of confidence - confidence of our future as a multiethnic,
and multicultural society. It is in that context that I and my cabinet
colleagues are deeply aware of the heavy responsibilities which
has been invested to us through our appointment. We accepted it
as a sacred call to national duty.
Since our appointment on Tuesday, July 4, cabinet has already met
twice and in these we have discussed the direction in which we
would like to take our country forward within the mandate given to
us by our head of state.
As the Fiji Military Forces together with the police continue with
the responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of citizens
and their properties, we in the cabinet will focus our attention on a
number of priority areas.
Of immediate importance is the rehabilitation of the economy. We
have to contain the downward spiral of our country;s finances. We
have to reverse the massive Loss of employment and the very
serious downturn in the tourism industry.
The key to all this is to restore and rebuild confidence in the business community
As the 1997 constitution has been abrogated and will not be reinstated this
will lay the ground work for the
preparation of a new constitution.
For this and in particular, areas of economic and social development we will
address the specific concerns off
the indigenous Fijians -concerns which led to the demonstration and Marches
in the prepared leading up to
19 May, the effect of which we see today.
I also stress that as the interim government we are very much aware in times
of crisis like this the people who
are hurt most are the poor, and these are people of all races. We say an equally
important priority is the
provision of needed welfare assistance to all economical and socially disadvantaged
people.
Added this assistance would be for all those in need and who deserve to be
assisted by government. We are
absolutely mindful of the special needs of the different communities of the
country. The vast contributions of
our brothers and sisters in the Indian an other communities has been crucial
in our develop,development as a
nation.
But the most important contribution has been from the indigenous Fijian and
Rotuman community. They are
the majority landowners in this country and it is through their good will and
generosity that today we are a
multiethnic and multicultural society.
Let me assure all citizens again, that the interim administration is here to
govern in the interest of all citizens
and all communities.It is committed to returning our country to constitutional
democracy as son as practically
possible. After our new constitution is promulgated next year.
An immediate priority will always be to safeguard and to protect the safety
and security of every individual
every family and every community. I ask you all tonight to spend as moment in
prayer. Let us ll pray for the
success of the talks between the FMF and George Speight and his group in laying
the frame work for peace
and stability in our country.
Let us pray for the release of the hostages so that can all be safely reunited
wit their families.
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last revision July 9, 2000