The recent events surrounding the dismissal of the Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, have left the public confused and unsure of what the future holds for Fiji.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka must take decisive and firm action to restore confidence in his leadership.
The public has been left with a gloomy picture of the Government’s ability to make and follow through with decisions.
The decisions are crucial in steering the young administration, which is barely two years old.
The conflicting statements from the high office have only added to the confusion.
Communication within Government must be uniform and consistent, especially when it comes to matters of national importance.
While forgiveness and meetings have been part of the resolution process, it is essential to differentiate between personal and work-related issues.
The apology issued by Mr Radrodro may be a personal and family matter, but the sacking was a decision based on work.
The two should not be mixed, especially when it comes to running Government and leading the nation, which prides itself on being ‘Fiji, the way the world should be.’
Mr Rabuka always preached forgiveness, love, peace, and unity.
He urged for ‘Let Love Shine’ in his maiden speech on December 2022, when he returned to power.
However, recent developments have brought personal issues into the spotlight, which is not conducive to running the Fijian Government effectively.
The saga surrounding Mr Radrodro must be resolved once and for all.
This is to allow the country to progress peacefully and focus on other pressing national issues.
The current administration is still finding its footing.
The recent questionable decisions have only exposed the weaknesses of Government and provided ammunition for the opposition.
With two years left before the next general election, Government must make well-informed decisions that will not harm their chances of re-election.
The concern raised by former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and other political figures should be taken seriously.
Mr Chaudhry asks, “Where is the Coalition headed?
While the PM has the prerogative to hire and fire his ministers, he must deal cautiously with situations that arise.”
Let’s hope that Government will prioritise the needs of the nation, the bread and butter issues while adhering to good governance and firm leadership.
The decision last night to keep Mr Radrodro as a backbencher will hopefully put to rest this entire drama.
Some quarters believe Mr Rabuka was simply testing the water to see where the coalition allegiances lie. Let’s hope that this will be last of such charade.
Feedback: maikeli.vesikula@fijisun.com.fj