7 Jan 2008

Former Fiji interim minister happy with regime time

4:17 pm on 7 January 2008

Fiji's former minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, Tourism and Environment says she has been inundated with job offers since being dropped from the interim cabinet.

The interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has announced a reshuffle which axed nine cabinet ministers in favour of four new ministers who are being sworn into office today.

Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau says she's had offers from as far away as Dubai, but would prefer to stay in Fiji.

She says personal highlights include developing the employment relations law , reviving tourism, and representing Fiji's views in global and regional efforts to combat climate change.

"It was just excellent. I enjoyed every minute of it. Even the lampooning, the cartooning, the harpooning and everything. I mean I came in with horse skin and I come out with crocodile skin. So Im fine. Im really quite excited that I had that year."

Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau says she's excited she'll now have more time for NGO work with female entrepreneurs.