The Charter Debate

The Peoples Charter is all the buzz at the moment.

You have the Charter detractors who see this as a back door attempt to put in a new framework under which future administrations will be set up.

Then you have those who are in favor of having such an exercise as a form of nation building and consensus.

Firstly, the exercise to have a Charter created in not new.

After every coup, we have had similar exercises.

The LF High Command believes that it is for the people of Fiji to decide whether they wish to adopt the Charter or not.

If the people wish to participate and offer their views, then they must have the freedom to do so.
They should not fear any retribution from anyone or any group.

If someone does not wish to offer their opinion or support to the Charter consultations, then they have the right to do so.

Any coercion would be contrary to the principles enshrined in the Charter.

We must allow people to debate and disagree.

Just because we have different opinions, doesn't mean that we pick up the cane knife and crow bar and start smashing each other.

No, disagreements are the essence of democracy.

Lets have a fair debate and attempt to come to a consensus. Lets learn from the past. It is obvious to one and all that since independence, something is amiss which has led to such tension in society.

Lets identify what it is. Is it ALTA? Is it communal voting? Is it the dominance of one community in the business sector?

Lets fix it .

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

You Cant Sack ME, We Resign!!! Enter Rajend Chaudhry

We have all heard the phrase, If I go down, then Ill take you with me!

Well, in the case of the Fiji Labour Party, it fits this bunch like a glove.

Before we look at Chaudhry's decision to withdraw the FLP from the IG to "focus on the Peoples Charter and the next general elections", lets get one thing right. Replace every reference to FLP with Mahendra Chaudhry.

They are one and the same.

Fii Labour Party is Chaudhrys toy.

He uses it as he wishes.

Chaudhry has once again demonstarted this very clearly.

This mans ego wouldnt allow Tom Ricketts and his boy Vayeshnoi to continue to collect their Ministers salary and ride around in their chauffer driven Pajeros.

No, if I go, you go!

So, starts a new era in Fijian politics.

What now?

Chaudhry has challenged the legitimacy of the very Government that he was serving.

Now the IG has been left without the supoport of any major political party.

However, for all those who wish to see early elections, this decision by Chaudhry indicates that elections are near.

But in what form?

The Peoples Charter will now be the way foward folks.

As for Chaudhry, LF remembers very clearly, Chaudhry said these very words when he accepted the position of Finance Minsiter in the IG:

2006: I WILL NOT CONTEST THE NEXT ELECTIONS
2008: GET READY FOR THE NEXT ELECTIONS

ENTER RAJEND CHAUDHRY!


INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.