You Have Failed the People of Fiji: Kamikamica Tells Seruiratu

Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica has criticised Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu, accusing him of failing the people of Fiji amid the ongoing debate over the amendment of the 2013 Constitution.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill was defeated in Parliament last week as Government was short by one vote to secure the required majority for it to proceed to the third reading.

Mr Seruiratu revealed during a press conference last Friday that Mr Kamikamica had lobbied him and sent text messages during the parliamentary debate on the bill.

He said that these messages began to arrive as Government realised they were unlikely to secure the 75 per cent threshold for the constitutional amendment.

Come clean

“I wish to also say that Government must come clean,” Mr Seruiratu told the media.

“We came in good faith for dialogue, when we were in the process of and during the debate in Parliament as the Deputy Prime Minister Honourable Biman Prasad was speaking; Government then probably realised they were not going to get the 75 per cent threshold. That’s when messages started to come in my phone, they were again offering perhaps maintain the referendum but lower the threshold.”

Mr Seruiratu further claimed that these messages, which remain on his phone, revealed a sense of desperation from Government to push the Bill through Parliament.

In his response, Mr Kamikamica dismissed Seruiratu’s claims as the result of weak leadership, calling out the Opposition Leader for failing to move beyond his two colleagues who had abandoned Parliament.

Weak leadership

“The Honourable Leader of Opposition’s outbursts are a reflection on his weak leadership,” Kamikamica said.

“The reality is he is still beholden to his two leaders who ran away from Parliament. My advice to Honourable Leader of Opposition is to grow a spine and think for himself.”

Mr Kamikamica clarified that his text message to Mr Seruiratu was authorised by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and was a genuine attempt to continue discussions about the Constitution.

He explained that the goal was to find common ground, something the people of Fiji expect.

He also pointed out that the Opposition could have chosen to engage in further talks or face the people after proper consultation, following the procedures outlined in the Constitution and Parliament’s Standing Orders.

“If the Leader of the shrinking Opposition understood the Constitution and the standing orders, they could have at least spoken to us about the last minute offer,” Mr Kamikamica added.

“We did the same when the former Prime Minister was being sanctioned before he ran away from Parliament.”

“Alas, the Leader of Opposition did not see my text as an opportunity to keep talking but some sort of desperation. That as well is part of the 16-year dictatorship playbook.”

The Deputy Prime Minister concluded by asserting that while the Prime Minister had tried to engage in dialogue, Mr Seruiratu’s response had now made it more likely that the matter would go to Court.

“You have failed the people of Fiji. You had an opportunity to rise above politics and seek common ground. That was the purpose of the text. I am afraid, we are now in the hands of the Court. If they tell us to go back to 1997, you would have little say in the matter.”

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