29 Jan 2009

Bainimarama says Forum is not helping Fiji

2:43 pm on 29 January 2009

Fiji's interim Prime Minister says the Pacific Island's Forum's claim it is helping Fiji is rubbish.

New Zealand's Prime Minister, John Key, says the forum wants Fiji to succeed, and has extended a hand of friendship but Fiji needs to understand there needs to be a return to democracy

Commodore Frank Bainimarama says, in a statement to Radio Tarana, the forum is going beyond its mandate, which is to be inclusive, not punitive.

"That is utter rubbish. We have a legal President, a legal Government, a functioning and independent judiciary. We have a constitution. If we need help, help us in the flood, now we have all these people from New Zealand donated in kind and in cash. If they want to help us, help us there."

Commodore Frank Bainimarama says Fiji's position, that there must be electoral reforms before elections, is not going to change.