The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party will not be bogged down by the statements made by the Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry where he said that ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase should join the People's Charter process and make amends after taking Fiji in the wrong direction for 6 years.
SDL's National Director, Peceli Kinivuwai said Chaudhry's negative statements make it very clear that he is trying to hold onto power.
"For the two elections that we went to, the people of Fiji voted us back in because they were very much convinced, they believed in our policies and they believed in the performance of the SDL Party. And for him – he’s statements have shown that he’s trying to hang on to power because he knows that he’s not going to stand a chance. He’s going around to farmers in Vanua Levu and telling them that he will be able to raise 50 year leases for them. But what we must remember that while he was in Parliament these were the issues as Leader of Opposition he refused."
Kinivuwai also said no one can stop the SDL from contesting the next elections.
Audio b
"With regard to SDL coming back into the election race as far as the 2009 Elections, let me remind Mr. Chaudhry that it’s not Mr. Chaudhry or any other person for that matter who can stop the SDL party from contesting the election. The SDL party will not contest the Election only and when the owners of the party and those are the people who elected SDL into power – if they don’t vote SDL back into power and then SDL will not come back into power."
Join Charter Process, says Chaudhry
The Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry is now calling on ousted Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase to join the People's Charter process and make amends after taking Fiji in the wrong direction for six years.
Chaudhry said all the issues relating to the Interim Prime Minister's statement to exclude the SDL from the next elections will be a thing of the past if the SDL joins the Charter process.
“The Prime Minister must have his reasons for saying so. I have not discussed this matter with him, nor has he discussed it with me. Mr. Qarase should know, it’s his battle. He should learn to fight his own battle and I’m sure if Mr. Qarase changes his stance on the People’s Charter things might develop. I cannot see why he’s objecting to the Charter particularly when it’s all about good governance, it’s all about righting the nation. It’s about completely eradicating racism that was in this country under Mr. Qarase’s administration and it’s about putting all the resources in the country to work so everybody can benefit from that. So that we can alleviate poverty. So that we can enhance the incomes of indigenous people.” Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
Chaudhry said Qarase should be part of the Charter process as the People's Charter will look at uniting the country and ensure that there are equal opportunities for all.
“I don’t know why he doesn’t want all this to happen. Now he has had six years in which to do it but under his stewardship the country has suffered. The country was divided. Race-based policy took the centre stage. And the economy was badly affected and these are all the issues which have arisen as a result of the six years that he was Prime Minister of the country. It is a golden opportunity for him to cooperate, to make amends for all the wrongs that he’s committed to the people of Fiji. I think he should come on board and assist in the process of building Fiji.” Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
