Bishop speaks out of turn on Fiji

Cabinet minister Teina Bishop told Fiji media yesterday that he was ready to welcome Fiji back into the Forum family.

Fiji Times published a story headlined ‘Leaders support Fiji’ quoting Pacific delegates who this week attended the Third Engaging with the Pacific (EWTP) meeting in Denerau.

The story quotes Bishop as congratulating self-appointed Prime Minister Commodore Voreque Bainimarama on initiating a new constitutional process.

”I congratulate Fiji in the way you are formulating your constitution and your process and the underlining principles of your constitution,“ he is quoted as saying. ”I can see through your process, through your decree and through your constitutional change the passion and the love for your people.“

Fiji Times reported that Bishop said he hoped Prime Minister Henry Puna would ”consider Fiji’s return to the Forum“.

”I hope that my country who is going to be the chair for the Forum next year (sic) will consider and with the support of the leaders of the Pacific bring back our eldest brother, Fiji, and not wait until everybody else is ready.

”My personal view is this, Fiji is ready to be part of our family again.“

Puna’s office issued a statement in response to Cook Islands News’ queries yesterday.

Communications advisor Trevor Pitt told Cook Islands News that Bishop’s quotes in the Fiji Times represent the minister’s ”personal view“.

”Minister Bishop is quoted as expressing his personal view.

”Ultimately, the Forum’s position on Fiji issue is grounded in its 2009 decision. The Cook Islands has been consistent in supporting the Forum Leaders’ collective position, since then.

”Having said that, the Cook Islands is supportive of the moves undertaken by the Fiji government to bring the country back to full democracy.

”Cook Islands also supports the task of the Ministerial Contact Group in engaging with Fiji on outstanding issues, and appreciative of the encouragement provided by Forum colleagues.

”The prime minister is sensitive to the ‘Fiji issue’ and recognises he will have a central role as chair in the Forum leaders’ discussions,“ Pitt’s statement reads.

The Fiji Times article also quotes Danny Williams of the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying it is ”clear that Fiji (is) on its path to democracy in 2014“.