‘Leaders Can’t Outsource Their Role’
Holding these events for research after an election shows a lack of clear vision/strategy, and reliance on group-think. While consulting experts is at times necessary, a Government must set its own vision and delivery plan with measurable policies.
Sunday 23 April 2023 | 11:15
Participants of Day 2 of the 2023 National Economic Summit at the Grand Pacific Hotel on April 21, 2023. Photo: Leon Lord
“Where there is no vision, the people perish” – Proverbs 29:18
This week the Fiji Government hosted a National Economic Summit for 500 delegates with a budgeted cost of $360,000.
The purpose of this summit was to create a “collective vision and implementation framework for Government policies.”
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Market Research Has A Time And Place
Listening to people and getting feedback is good.
People want the Government to succeed.
This creates better social and economic outcomes.
In business, market research is carried out before you launch your product or service.
You analyse the market, customers, competitors, and develop a cost effective solution to add value for customers.
Before elections, political parties follow a similar research process.
They analyse voter demographics in their region.
Politicians meet with locals, hear their concerns, and eventually a manifesto is compiled with ideas, beliefs, policies and promises.
Voters evaluate the manifesto, vote for their preferred party or candidate, and eventually the winning party, or parties form a Government.
This newly elected Government then has one simple role – to deliver the promises it made to voters during the election campaign.
That is what they were elected for.
Participants of the National Economic Summit at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on April 20, 2023. Photo: Josefa Babitu
The Way Forward
Fiji is facing tough economic conditions.
Spending $360,000 on a summit is unnecessary.
A lack of vision and imagination hinders progress towards better economic outcomes.
To improve the lives of Fijians, a bolder vision and cross-party political support, is needed.
Attracting more investment capital can improve socio-economic outcomes and deliver a high quality of living for the country.
Isn’t it time for less workshops and more action so that Fiji can thrive?
