Seruiratu Named As Acting PM

Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing Inia Seruiratu will act as Prime Minister.

He will not be part of the Fijian delegation to the COP26 as he previously did when he was Climate Champion.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum will lead the delegation to the crucial climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. They leave tomorrow.

As the Minister responsible for Climate Change, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was recently nominated to serve as the Pacific’s High-Level Champion for Oceans at COP26 as well as to support the Cham- pion of Finance.

Mr Seruiratu’s appointment could mean the end of rotating the acting position among Mr Bainimarama’s Cabinet ministers. It brings certainty and stability to Government at a time when it is under constant attack from the Opposition.

Mr Seruiratu is a senior Cabinet member and number three in the hierarchy pecking order after Mr Sayed-Khaiyum. He is widely respected and Mr Bainimarama can count on him to hold the fort together in his and A-G’s absence.

COP26 is happening at an exciting time for Fiji when it prepares to open its international border to thousands of overseas tourists, investors and business people.

If there is anyone in Cabinet that can steady the ship other than Mr Bainimarama or Mr Sayed-Khaiyum it is Mr Seruiratu. He is recognised both in and out of Parliament and is easily accessible.

Apart from driving global action on climate issues as Fiji’s High Level Climate Champion to the COP23 in 2017, Mr Seruiratu was responsible for advancing the Global Climate Action Agenda.

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