Fiji controlled by ‘super ministers’

FIJI – The opposition National Federation Party in Fiji says Frank Bainimarama’s new cabinet concentrates power in a handful of ministers and means a conflict of interest in some areas.

Fiji’s prime minister reshuffled his cabinet 10 days ago, saying he wanted to reinvigorate the cabinet half way through the parliamentary term.

He has taken on the foreign affairs portfolio and given Lands and Mineral Resources to Faiyaz Koya who’s also the Trade and Tourism Minister.

The NFP said the reshuffle proved more than 80 per cent of the national budget was controlled by a handful of ministers, creating what it described as a cabinet within a cabinet.

It said critically important decisions on national policies, precious natural resources and governance would be made by only a few ministers.

The party said the prime minister can’t give full attention to his other portfolios of i-Taukei Affairs and Sugar with the increased travel required as foreign minister.

The party said apart from the Prime Minister, Fiji now had three ministers who hold multiple portfolios and can be likened to “super ministers”.

“The reshuffle has disregarded issues of transparency, conflict of interest and decision-making based on impartiality,” it said in a statement.

A Fijian academic says the Fiji prime minister’s appointment of himself as foreign minister creates an interesting situation.

Steven Ratuva, from New Zealand’s Canterbury University, said Fiji has been in a geopolitical shift for years, and is now at a stage where it’s trying to project itself internationally.

He said Bainimarama will want to lead that shift, although he is not known for his diplomacy.

“He wants to take over that position to lead the way in relation to Fiji’s role within the region and also internationally.

“Whether the other countries see that as a wise move is subject to question, particularly in relation to what some may see as his diplomatic capacity engaging with other leaders.”

Another regional affairs commentator said with Bainimarama handling foreign affairs, Fiji’s foreign policy risks becoming one man’s viewpoint.

“There isn’t any buffer now, as it were, between the prime minister’s views and other regional views, particularly dealing with Australia and New Zealand,” said the director of the Centre for International and Regional Affairs at the University of Fiji, Richard Herr.

“The prime ministerial attitude will be much more directly translated into foreign policy.”

“There are issues that bother the prime minister and there isn’t an interlocutor who’s going to either soften it or seek compromises that might be workable,” said Dr Herr.

- RNZI