Coup leader George Speight says he has pledged to resolve the hostage situation
before the Great Council of Chiefs meeting on Monday.
Speight said he and military leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama had pledged
to resolve the issues of the release of the hostages, the return of the arms
and ammunitions held by the rebels and the return to camp of the army to give
the GCC a clean plate to work with.
The GCC should meet "untainted by those issues being unresolved",
Speight said.
Speight and his group had a meeting with the military government last night
at the army headquarters at Nabua.
A one-to-one meeting between Speight and Commodore Bainimarama took place shortly
after.
Speight says the two leaders given each other personal undertakings that they
will address; the situation of those who are detained, the situation of the
arms held by the rebels(which originated out of the armoury of the military
forces) the issue of the presence of the army in the public and their return
back to the barrack.
Resolving the issues will clear the air and allow the GCC to proceed without
being hindered, Speight said.
"We have agreed the (GCC) decision will be binding and we will both abide
by the outcome," he said.
The GCC decision will provide the key to mapping out the country's future, he
said.
At least 300 Namosi villagers have become the latest victims of the current
political crisis affecting the country.
Local handicraft company Sandollars that employed the villagers has laid them
off.
The company exported coconut oil, soaps and creams.
The villagers earned $8000 a month supplying coconut products and other items
to the company.
Many companies around the country are retrenching workers as the crisis continues.
Western Viti Levu's largest garment factory Ghim Li Fashion, which employs
more than 1000 people, is facing major problems with the current crisis, according
to a radio report.
Ghim Li says it is set to lose about $2 million if it fails to export two shipments
to the United States, the company's main export market.
The US is expecting one shipment this month and another next month. With the
current situation, the company doubts if it will be able to ship the goods in
time.
The major problem is workers not turning up to work since the People's Government
was taken hostage at gunpoint and the subsequent riots in Suva two week ago.
Curfew restrictions imposed by the military are also not of much help.
The factory says that several of its workers could be laid off in the worst
case scenario or if things don't improve quickly.
Fiji's garment industry, which employs 15,000 people, was developed in the late
1980s and early 1990s. With Fiji facing a major economic downturn after the
1987 military coups, the then Interim Administration gave incentives, including
13-year tax free holidays, to garment firms to set up in Fiji and help create
mass employment.
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