SUVA (Pacnews) — Fiji Labor Party leader and interim finance minister says politicians who serve the nation “diligently and honestly” should be given the chance to contest the next general elections.
Interim Prime Minister and military commander Frank Bainimarama has already stated that one of the conditions for those accepting cabinet positions in the interim government must not to contest national elections.
Commodore Bainimarama said no one should use this opportunity for political gains as was previously the case with the last interim government led by the then Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase in 2000.
But interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry told reporters that those who perform well should be given the chance to stand in the next elections.
“Well there are two view points there. One is yes, the decision will ensure that the interim administration does not have a political agenda of its own and that it truly serves the nation and rebuild it before handing over to an elected government that is one perspective of looking at it,” said Chaudhry, this nation’s first Indo-Fijian prime minister.
“The other is that if people there who served the nation well, diligently, honestly and they still have some political life ahead of them than perhaps they should be reconsidered. This is something which I’m sure will be discussed further in cabinet because there are some very young people.
“It’s alright for me I was not contemplating another term anyway we’ve been allowed to go full five years but you know this the third time that our term was interrupted. In 1987 it was just a month, in 2006 it was a year and this time it’s just six-months. So it’s very difficult in such a situation to make an assessment when you are not given full five year term.”
Chaudhry said he is not ending his political career as yet as he has few more years to serve the nation.
“I will cross the bridge when I come to it. At this point in time I’m not thinking about it. I have just accepted this office so it will keep me in politics for a while I guess.”