24 Jun 2011

Samoa PM dismissive of Fiji 2014 election pledge

1:28 pm on 24 June 2011

Samoa's prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, says a promise by Fiji's leader to hold elections in 2014 is not taken seriously by Pacific Islands Forum leaders.

Tuileapa says this is because Commodore Frank Bainimarama has been consistently dishonest in his dealings with the leaders and therefore cannot be trusted.

He says Commodore Bainimarama's latest election promise is also not consistent with his actions as he continues to fill up the top public service ranks with his cronies in the military and elsewhere.

Tuilaepa has invited him to Apia and says should his visit coincide with that of the former Fiji military officer, Lieutenant Colonel Tevita Mara, the three of them can enjoy cold Vailima beers under the swaying coconut trees.

He says perhaps what the situation in Fiji requires, is a cold Vailima solution.

Alluding to Fiji's military coups, Tuilaepa says Samoa doesn't have coups, unless, as he puts it, it's a chicken coop.