Also out are interim Tourism Minister Tom Ricketts and interim Labor Minister Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi. This was decided at the Fiji Labor Party council meeting in Nadi.
Party president Jokapeci Koroi said the council decided its three ministers in the interim government must disengage themselves from there now that the draft People’s Charter was ready.
Chaudhry downplayed any claims that he was asked to step down by the interim government.
“There was no directive or anything at all in that regard, if they have any evidence they must produce it,” he said. “As far as we are concerned, this is a collective decision of the party. I had hinted to the PM once the charter is ready we will step down.”
Chaudhry said for the 18 months he was with the interim government, his duties to the party had been neglected.
“For us, the party comes first. For the past 18 months, we have been busy with our duties to the interim government,” Chaudhry said. “Now we have to prepare for the general election.”
Chaudhry said that they would write and inform interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
“I tried to call him on his phone but couldn’t so I left him a message there,” he said.
Party president Jokapeci Koroi said it was in the best interest of the party that the three step down.
“It is to allow it to effectively engage with the population with respect to the draft charter as well as to prepare for the next general elections,” she said. “The national council has therefore directed that the three FLP ministers holding cabinet portfolios resign from the interim government and advise the interim prime minister accordingly.”
She said the party only joined the interim government on the condition that executive authority was returned to the president, Ratu Josefa Iloilo, in order to assist in the process of returning Fiji to parliamentary democracy through general elections.
“An important consideration for the FLP becoming a part of the interim government was to save Fiji from imminent financial and economic collapse, as well as to reform Fiji’s system of governance, rid it of corruption and racial discrimination and to promote national unity,” she said.
