Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has today hinted that his job in taking the national economy in the right direction is almost complete and he may soon consider resigning to prepare for the next elections.
In an exclusive interview with Fijivillage, Chaudhry said a lot has been done and he knows Commodore Bainimarama's directive to the cabinet ministers that they have to resign if they are planning to contest the next elections.
"When I’m satisfied that the mandate of His Excellency has been delivered, and I think to a large extent it has already been delivered, and seeing that elections could be coming soon – I don’t know when exactly - when we also are prepared for it. I’ll make a decision. But of course we’ve been told by the Prime Minister that we all have to – those who are contesting elections – will have to go six months before the elections. At the moment, I’m still busy with work and I’m very happy with the achievement so far. And let me also say that the path to economic recovery is not an easy one. Government has to be prepared to face the challenges, particularly if it’s a government about reforms, reforming the system. It must have the political will and the conviction to see it through."
Chaudhry had also stressed that he was never asked to resign by Commodore Bainimarama.
"I think the matter has been cleared by the Prime Minister. Yes. I am aware of the speculation that was created. I also know who the people behind it were," he said. "And this was one very highly orchestrated campaign against me – both by the media and by the some vested interests. But I’m afraid they have to be disappointed this time around."
Chaudhry also clarifies that the imposition of the 20 cents per litre excise duty and 20 cents per litre export duty on bottled water was a cabinet decision and he will see how cabinet will react to the repealing of the duty last night in its emergency meeting tomorrow.
"The decision was not mine alone. The decision was the collective decision of the cabinet. And in terms of the doctrine of collective cabinet responsibility, that decision can only be reviewed by cabinet," he said. "As far as I’m concerned, there is a Cabinet meeting tomorrow and I will state my views in that cabinet meeting. So for the time being, I do not wish to make any other statement because the appropriate place to do so is at the cabinet itself and not in the media at least not before cabinet has fully deliberated on the matter."
In an interview with Fijivillage this morning, Commodore Frank Bainimarama said he had to step in and he told the interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and members of the military council to meet with the water bottling companies last night after they ceased their operations until further notice.
