Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has called on all to support local businesses and not undermine the amazing capabilities that are there in our communities and people.

The A-G was speaking at the official opening of the Fiji Airways Premier Lounge housed on the ground floor of the refurbished and modernised Nadi International Airport Terminal yesterday.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said excellent collaboration and partnerships is what is needed to propel Fiji forward towards stronger economical status. On that note, he urged individuals, groups and stakeholders to “be on the same page.”

“We still have some people who are not on the same page. And I hope those of you who are not on the page, whether you’re here or outside this room actually get on the page. Because it is only through collaboration and being able to have a vision in respect of what Fiji is capable of doing,” he said.

He went on to say that unfortunately there were some people who were still stuck in the past.

“If we are able to break the shackles of the past and think in a partnership mode, making sure that the publications we have in Fiji whether it’s the Fiji Times, whether it’s a radio station or television station – we need to get with the programme and in that way, Fiji would be able to be a lot better because we have a unique story to tell.

“And our most unique and important asset base is our people. Our hospitality resonates throughout the world and that is what we need to take advantage of, to bring that modernity and professionalism.

“Let’s all get onto the same page. Let’s deliver the product that we can to the rest of the world.”

Efforts to get a comment from the Fiji Times were unsuccessful. The editor-in-chief Fred Wesley had not replied to emailed questions when this edition when to press this morning.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra