GOVT REFUSE MOTION TO HELP NATIVE FIJIAN IN BUSINESS PARLIAMENT FRIDAY 12 DEC 2014 On 12 Dec 2014 the government refused and voted out a motion, by Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, to help native Fijian in Business. The express terms of the motion that was tabled in Parliament was, “That the Minister responsible for iTaukei Affairs ensure that the divestment of shares in national strategic assets like Fiji Ports, Fiji Electricity Authority and Fiji Water Authority be divested only to Fijian person and/or companies that have been in existence in Fiji for the last 20 years, and for example, a consortium to be led by Fijians Holdings Limited” In moving the motion, Ratu Naiqama pleaded with the government side, “to look at the request on its merit and not as a request put forward by the opposition. The Native Fijians are only 200 years away from the time they were savages and as individuals they have failed over and over again in the business world because it is alien to their values. But collectively they have been very successful and the Fijian Holdings Limited is a very good example. The government has already approved in its budget the sale of shares in crucial government companies like Fiji Ports Authority and Fiji Electricity Authority. Diversifying shares to Fijian Holdings will also stop the risk of human trafficking, drug trafficking etc that are a usually associated with organised crime who use such companies as conduits for their trade. The alternative of divesting shares to overseas companies, like a Chinese company, will invite these dangers. Fijian Holdings has also shown the capability and capacity.” Honorable Gavoka supported the plea by Ratu Naiqama and asked the government side to vote with their conscious as this is a measure to help Indigenous Fijians. The Prime Minister however, instead of agreeing or addressing the concern chose instead to make personal attacks against both Honourable Gavoka and Ratu Naiqama to which Ratu Naiqama said “he needs to understand and he might well need to be taught a lesson in leadership”. Before the vote was taken, the Opposition openly challenged their kins in the government side to vote with their conscious but unfortunately they did not and defeated a vital opportunity to allow Native Fijians assistance in business that would also avoid the risk of human trafficking, drug trafficking etc.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 06:28:28 +0000
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