The Methodist Church of Fiji has lent its support to the efforts by UN representative on Fiji Sir Paul Reeves to set up a political forum to assist and facilitate consultation between the interim government and political leaders.
In a statement, Reverend Manasa Lasaro said the Methodist Church supports the proposed dialogue outside the People's Charter process and its supports the involvement of the UN and Commonwealth Secretariat.
Meanwhile, UN Envoy Sir Paul Reeves met with the two Co-Chairs of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji Catholic Church Head Archbishop Petero Mataca and Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama last night.
The Reeves delegation also were at the parliament complex where they held talks with other interim cabinet ministers, political party officials and various non government organisations.
Hopes High For Next Forum
Hopes are high that positive steps will now be taken to have a political forum to discuss the proposed electoral reforms.
Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama said Commonwealth representative Sir Paul Reeves, is now in the country and he hopes all the preparations will be worked out for the forum to kick off sometime next month.
"Everyone knows that he’s going to put together plenty work in having dialogue put in place to talk on the election changes. That’ s basically what we have in the next couple of days He’ll be here until the weekend," Bainimarama said.
"Hopefully by the time he goes back he’d have appraised himself with the situation from all the political parties. By the time he goes back I hope that he’ll have enough information to put together a terms of reference, timing of the electoral reform dialogue, the membership and that’s something that’s very positive with us right now."
Commonwealth Envoy Sir Paul Reeves has already met with the two Co-Chairs of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji.
Although he did not want to elaborate on what was discussed in the meeting with interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama last night and Archbishop Petero Mataca, he said he will able to get wide range of views within the next two days.
"Paid my visit to the Archbishop and have calls to make over the next two or three days or so. So we’ve seen the Prime Minister last night," Sir Paul Reeves said.
