A statement by Savenaca Narube, Leader of Unity Fiji and former Governor of the Reserve Bank
“The recent call by the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama for Pacific unity rings very hypocritical and hollow following Fiji’s unilateral decisions to withhold its grants to USP, its dictatorial treatment of the USP Council and the inhumane removal of the USP Vice Chancellor,” says Savenaca Narube the Leader of Unity Fiji.
“I believe that his call will be greeted at best with skepticism by the Leaders of the Pacific nations when they know that he had not accorded them respect since he took over government in 2006,” stated Mr. Narube.
Mr. Narube added, “We, in the region, value deeply our Pacific ties and our common values. We treat each other with respect. But sadly, we have watched with deep regret the destruction of this Pacific unity and cooperation by the Bainamarama government.”
“In a few swoops, he has destroyed regionalism and regional cooperation. Thanks to him, we can say goodbye to the goodwill amongst Pacific nations to solve common problems. He has crushed the deep respect that underpins our relationships.”
“The entire Pacific by now knows that Mr. Bainimarama is a bully. After his 2006 coup, he blamed Australia and New Zealand of bullying the Pacific countries. Then he turned around and bullied smaller nations in the Pacific in commercial negotiations and at the multilateral and bilateral levels.”
“Can you believe that this is the same person that shoved aside the Pacific Islands Forum to establish a rival Pacific Islands Development Forum which still exists today doing who knows what with a grant of $2 million a year?” asked the Leader of Unity Fiji.
“What goes around comes around. A Statesman is respected for his vision, inclusivity, and actions that matches his words,” said the former Governor of the Reserve Bank.
Mr. Narube concludes, “I hang my head in shame for what had transpired recently at USP. Mr. Bainimarama and his government will be remembered for the destruction of our spirit of cooperation and goodwill that we have built up in this region over decades.”