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National Task Team 1: Good Governance The National Task Team on Good Governance (NTT1) agreed today that fundamental improvements are required in the way that Fiji is governed. The NTT1 said these changes are both “urgent and vital” to the future development of the country.
NTT1 urged the people of Fiji to participate actively in the extensive national consultations that will be conducted on the required critical changes in governance. These consultations will begin in late March 2008, after the three Working Groups set up by NTT1 complete their initial studies on major governance issues faced by Fiji. NTT1 held its first meeting at the Committee Room of the Parliament complex on Thursday, 24th January 2008, following its appointment by the National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF). All members of the NTT1 attended the meeting as well as several members from the other two NTTs. The NTT1 is one of three Task Teams set up by the NCBBF. NTT1 unanimously elected two Co-Chairs: Mr. Josefa Serulagilagi, Chairman of Tailevu Provincial Council and Mr. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Interim Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Electoral Reform, Public Enterprises and Anti Corruption. Members of the Task Force had an open and spirited discussion about the critical issues faced in governing Fiji. These included whether parliamentary democracy was working effectively; the role that leaders needed to play in supporting all communities in Fiji in working together; and ending Fiji’s reputation as having a “coup culture”. NTT1 noted that, while the people of Fiji have demonstrated inner strength and compassion that has carried them through many difficult periods in the past, in the wake of the coups since 1987 there has been increasing economic stagnation, increasing religious and racial intolerance, widespread poverty and a rising tide of violent crime. In addition to a Draft Consultation Document on the preparation of the State of Nation and Economy (SNE) Report, the NTT1 also discussed the terms of reference of three Working Groups that it established to assist in its deliberations. The Consultation Document on the SNE Report will provide information to facilitate more detailed investigation and discussion by the three NTTs including the various Working Groups set up for the preparation of the Draft SNE Report. This will be the basis for the formulation of the draft proposed People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress (PCCPP). NTT1 agreed that it was essential to involve all sectors of the community in a national debate on how to improve governance. What is important now is that all shades of opinions are expressed so that they can be taken into account. The NTT1 expressed the hope that all sectors of the community, including all political parties, will be actively involved in the consultation process. The PCCPP process, following the inaugural meeting of NCBBF on 16th January 2008, is now a national undertaking. While it has the full support of the Interim Government, the PCCPP process is independent of it or of any other sectional interest. NTT1 also agreed that as a way forward, it will be transparent in its work, by sharing its working documents widely. The Working Groups established by NTT1 will address a number of critical issues in the areas of Good Governance. These topics are (1) Governance, Leadership, Legal and Constitutional Reforms; (2) Institutional and Public Sector Reforms; and (3) Role of Fiji’s Security Forces in National Development. After four coups in twenty years, the NTT1 members believed that it was important to address the “coup culture” issue. This review will be undertaken by WG 3 on the Role of Fiji’s Security Forces in National Development. The Working Groups, by mid March, will develop detailed recommendations on each priority topic for consideration by the NTT after thorough consultation through an outreach programme to all stakeholders around the country. NTT1 expressed its concern on the need for this extremely important national initiative to be adequately resourced. Suitable external expertise must be mobilised; and NTT1 noted, with appreciation, the contribution of the small team of external advisors currently supporting the work of the Secretariat. NTT1 reaffirmed the appreciation expressed by their NTT2 colleagues for the decisions recently made by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand not to apply the travel ban to those involved in the work on the draft proposed PCCPP, i.e. those serving in the National Council, the NTTs and in the Working Groups. In order to further promote better understanding of the PCCPP process, it was agreed to circulate relevant documents also to the international community. Josefa Serulagilagi Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum |
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