14 Jul 2006

Senior Fiji Labour MPS still awaiting briefing from party leader

9:55 am on 14 July 2006

Senior members of the Fiji Labour Party are reported to be concerned that their leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, will set ground rules for the functioning of the multi-party cabinet without consulting them.

They have told Radio Legend that Mr Chaudhry is yet to brief them on Wednesday's meeting with the prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, and the opposition leader, Mick Beddoes, on the issue.

They say Mr Chaudhry is ignoring their calls for a party management board meeting and will not brief them on his talks to set the ground rules for the multi-party cabinet.

The senior members says the paper on ground rules which Mr Chaudhry proposes to table at his next meeting with the prime minister and Mr Beddoes needs management board approval.

But they say Mr Chaudhry is once again trying to run the show all on his own and is taking his own proposals for ground rules to the two other leaders.

Meanwhile, Mr Qarase says he hopes the problems in the Labour Party can be resolved soon because they have the potential to destabilize the multi-party cabinet.

Mr Qarase says if the SDL and FLP can overcome the difficulties involved, together they have the chance to change Fiji's entire social and political landscape.