The Pacific Islands Leaders have unanimously supported the Fiji governments Strategic Framework for Change and Fiji's roadmap to Democracy at the Engaging with the Pacific meeting in Natadola.
The Deputy Secretary for the Strategic Framework for Change Filimoni Kau presented the leaders with the plans for electoral reforms highlighting that the new Constitution will be developed by 2013 with public consultations starting in September 2012.
Kau also revealed that elections will be held under a new electoral system with an Open List, the voting age will be reduced to 18 years and it will be one vote with equal value irrespective of a person’s background.
Following the presentation, the Pacific Leaders came out in full support of these reforms on Fiji's way forward to elections in 2014.
The Leaders were impressed with the efforts and progress made by Fiji towards its reforms and thanked the Fiji government for inviting them to engage with them.
The Leaders also noted that nation building is not a simple process but one that requires a concerted amount of commitment and will to obtain the desired results.
The Delegates also expressed a lot of interest in a number of government initiatives as the anti-corruption laws, rural development programmes, poverty alleviation and good governance policies which Fiji is implementing.
The Pacific Island leaders noted that they share similar challenges to those faced by Fiji and are supportive of Fiji's approach in dealing with these issues.
The pacific leaders who have endorsed Fiji's plans include Solomon Islands Prime Minister Dr Derek Sikua, Kiribati President Anote Tong, Prime Minister for Tuvalu Apisai Ilemia and other country representatives from Tonga, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Tokelau, East Timor and Wallis and Futuna.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare arrives later today to attend the Engaging with the Pacific meeting.
The meeting has taken a break as Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has left the meeting venue to go and welcome him to Fiji.
Story by: Roneel Lal
