Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama said the extension of travel bans announced by New Zealand is likely to affect Fiji's return to parliamentary democracy.
In a statement this afternoon, Bainimarama said these bans are "hypocracy of the highest order" on the part of New Zealand and questioned how they can claim to remain focused on encouraging a rapid return to democracy when they are hell bent on punishing credible people who are willing to help bring about change to take the country forward.
Bainimarama said if NZ aims to hurt Fiji and crumble our state institutions, then obviously it will affect the interim government’s capability to return the country to parliamentary elections which the international community is demanding.
He said New Zealand and other countries putting pressure on Fiji should recognize the milestones achieved by the interim government and maintains that they remain firmly committed to meeting the commitments it has given to the Pacific Islands Leaders Forum and the European Union.
The New Zealand government has extended its travel sanctions to include any person appointed to a post by the interim government since December 5th while imposing bans on seasonal work permits for Fiji citizens in retaliation to Micheal Greenes expulsion as High Commissioner to Fiji last month.
