YAREN (PINA) — Respected Chief Secretary Matthew Batsuia has resigned from Nauru government service amid a growing crisis facing President Rene Harris.
Batsuia is believed to have quit over lack of economic and financial planning and a budget he called unrealistic, with phosphate income dwindling.
He has described his resignation as a matter of principle.
Batsuia has been increasingly frustrated over what he considers a lack of commitment to economic planning for Nauru’s post-phosphate era.
But his resignation comes with Harris in Australia getting treatment for diabetes problems, opposition members trying to get parliament to sit, and a public petition being circulated supporting this.
Nauru has faced a succession of changes of government amid growing financial pressures after decades of high living on phosphate earnings.
There is also a realization that many millions of dollars have been lost over the years through waste, poor investments, and previous governments being duped or conned.
Batsuia is known to have been concerned for some time over government spending.
He has said this did not reflect the island’s changed circumstances, with no more guaranteed wealth from phosphate earnings as the phosphate on the island begins to run out.
The chief secretary is known to have expressed concern over continuing expensive international travel by government ministers.
This has happened while Nauru has struggled to maintain standards of health, education and other basic services.
Harris gained some relief through hosting the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting last year and agreeing to an Australian request to temporarily house asylum seekers.
Both have brought much needed money to Nauru. They have led to the patching up of some services, such as water and electricity.
But Batsuia is believed to have stressed that long-term planning is needed and not short-term fixes.
