Your Grace Archbishop Mataca
Ladies and Gentlemen

As Co-Chairman of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji, I would like to thank you all for giving your time today to attend this workshop on the process of work and consultation for the People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress.

The Charter work is now an autonomous national undertaking.  It is in the hands of the people of Fiji and, under the guidance of the National Council for Building a Better Fiji for All

There has been much idle speculation about the People’s Charter.  Like the story being spread within the country and abroad, that the Peoples Charter is already written.   There is no Peoples Charter yet; we are now on the path to developing one.

Today you have learnt that the road towards the People’s Charter is a difficult and challenging path. Everyone who cares about our country is being asked to help us build that road.   This is an intense process of consultation, studies, proposal, writing and submissions. 

Everyone’s ideas are welcome to be put through the NCBBF process, finalized in a State of the Nation and Economy Report and, distilled in a Charter for the People to decide by vote, later this year.  This is the most democratic and people-centered consultation process ever undertaken in our history.  It is about how our country needs to change if we are to build a better future for ourselves, our children and their descendents.
 
Fiji has been in a deep rut for over two decades.  To get out of this rut is not going to be easy, nor is it going to be painless.  It will demand sacrifices and commitment from all of us who love this country.   Together we must save this country and move it forward along a more progressive and democratic future.

There are some who are opposed to the People’s Charter initiative, such as SDL and the Methodist Church.

The door remains open for them to join the National Council, to be part of the sincere and open dialogue of the People’s Charter process.

Those who are currently opposed are an integral part of Fiji’s future.  They need to be part of the constructive dialogue through the Peoples Charter process.  That will demand a lot of self examination and self criticism, because nobody has a monopoly on wisdom, or solutions to our problems.  Our opponents and our critics must change their attitudes; and make their contributions to a united future for Fiji.

It is vital that we build bridges of understanding, tolerance, mutual respect and care for each other as the foundation for a new sense of national solidarity.  As His Grace the Archbishop has pointed to in his opening speech, we are here beginning to build the foundation for   a new national unity and identity. 

We must not fail in this endeavour.  Our country is faced with internal and external threats to our efforts to revive our economy, to improve our system of governance, and in our inter-communal relations.  We can ill afford to remain deeply divided about the way forward for our country.

In the short period of time whilst I am interim Prime Minister, I will do all I can to unite our country so we can achieve our dream for a better Fiji for all.  Once again, thank you for your support and your contribution to building a People’s Charter for Change, Peace and Progress.