Outgoing interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry said the interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama was aware that the Fiji Labour Party would pull out of the interim government after the People's Charter is out.
Chaudhry stresses that the Labour Party now needs to prepare for the elections and hopes that the interim government follows the fundamental principles already put in place.
“I had hinted earlier on to the Prime Minister that once the work on the Charter is completed, we will have to exit in order to strengthen party machinery in preparation for the General Election. That is exactly what we are doing and that is the reason for our exit. We believe that the responsibilities entrusted to us have been satisfactorily carried out. I took on the task of stabilizing government finances and putting the economy of this country back on track. That has been achieved and it is now time for me to exit. I hope that the interim administration will follow the fundamentals that have been put in placeso that there is financial and economic development.”
As members of the FLP prepare to resign from the interim cabinet later this morning, Chaudhry said their preparations for the next elections will start immediately.
After the FLP National Council endorsed the withdrawal of Chaudhry, Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi and Tom Rickets from the interim cabinet effective from today, Chaudhry revealed that the FLP will now make its own submission on the Draft People's Charter.
“That was to begin immediately, almost immediately there will be consultations. Unfortunately, we still don’t have the vernacular edition of the Charter. I hope that this will be coming out soon. And on the 14th of December we will have a workshop of the National Council. By then we will have some feedback from our constituents. We will have a workshop to look at 3 or 4 most important issues and then we will have our submissions made to the National Council for Building a Better Fiji on the content of the Charter. There are contentious issues there that are diverging views on that. We need to consult with our people to get those views, properly analyze and take a party position. The final document that will go to the National Council for Building a Better Fiji with regards to our own stand on the Charter, will be endorsed by the National Council of the party.”
According to Chaudhry the proposed Political Forum will set the platform for the next general elections to be held.
When questioned whether he will contest the next general elections, Chaudhry said only time will tell. Chaudhry, Vayeshnoi and Rickets are expected to meet with Interim PM, Commodore Frank Bainimarama this morning to hand in their resignation letters.
