Despite what our critics have to say, we believe we have made progress.

These are the words of Interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama when addressing the Melanesian Spear Head Group on Thursday.

Bainimarama noted the Interim Government's progress through the completion of the national census last year, the appointment of a Deputy Supervisor of Elections, appointment of the Boundaries Commission members and the setting aside of funds in the 2008 National Budget for preparatory work on elections.

The Interim Prime Minister also made known his disappointment that the People's Charter initiative was represented as a delaying tactic on the road to elections at the Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in Auckland.

Bainimarama informed the MSG that the Charter is not a delaying tactic and that it is genuinely a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.

He told his Melanesian counterparts that talks with Ousted Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase was a step forward for Fiji adding the hectoring and preaching of those who claim to know more about Fiji is not helpful and should stop.

Bainimarama then called on the MSG members to join and support Fiji in its bid for sustainable parliamentary democracy.