The Speech By The President Ratu Josefa Iloilo After Resuming Control Of The Fiji Islands

Good citizens of our beloved Fiji Islands, I know that the transfers of powers  over the last few weeks have been trying for all of us.

In particular in early December we were at  crossroads at which hard and decisive decisions needed to be made.

I was, as has been noted by the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, unable to fully perform my duties as I was prevented from doing so.  I do not wish to elaborate on this point but I can state that they were predominantly cultural.

In any case, given the circumstances I would have done exactly what the Commander of the RFMF Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama did since it was necessary to do so at that time.

His actions were also valid in law.

Therefore I fully endorse the actions of the Commander I fully endorse the actions of the commander of the RFMF,   and the RFMF in acting in the interest of the nation and most importantly in upholding the constitution.

I thank him and his men and woman for having the courage to step in.

I also thank him and the RFMF for handing back all the executive powers.

I thank the civil service the police, the judiciary, and other government institutions in remaining faithfully at their posts.

I thank the good citizens of the beloved country of ours who have gone about their ordinary business.

It is now necessary to move on, look ahead and take steps to enforce a genuine democracy.

I  look forward to working with overseas governments, international organisations and our regional neighbours and appeal to them all to recognize our need  to find  Fiji  based solutions while upholding the constitution.

I will therefore shortly after consultation with capable people announce an interim government to take us smoothly to the next elections.

The mandate of the interim government will be as follows:

• Continue to uphold the constitution;
• Where necessary facilitate all legal protection and immunity both criminal and civil  to the Commander officers and all members of the RFMF ;
• Give effect to the actions of the RFMF including their respective suspensions, dismissals and temporary removal from office of civil servants chief executive officers ,those appointed by the Judicial Services and Constitutional Services Commissions,  the Judiciary and Government appointed Board Members ;
• Steady our economy through sustained economic growth and correct economic mis management of the past six years;
• Lift up the living standards of the growing poor and unprivileged of our country ;
• Restructure the Native Land Trust Board to ensure more benefits flows  to the ordinary indigenous Fijians
• Eradicate systematic corruption by including the setting up of an anti corruption unit through the attorney generals office and set new standards of governmental and institutional transparency;
• Improve our relations with our neighbours and international community
• Take our country to democratic elections after an advanced electoral office and systems are in place and  political and economic conditions are conducive to the holding of such elections
• Immediately as  practicable introduce a code of conduct and freedom of information provisions and give paramountcy to national security and territorial integrity of Fiji

I thank each and and every one of you for your patience and forebearing

I  urge all to strive for a better Fiji

God bless Fiji
Thank you