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Issue No: 683; 17 April 2001
Elected Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry says that good leaders in Fiji are not allowed to stay in office to complete their terms. Chaudhry was responding to a University of the South Pacific statement that Fiji lacked good leaders. Chaudhry stated: "The problem is not that there are no good leaders but its where good leaders are not allowed to stay in office and are barred from delivering their national vision". During the one year rule of the People's Coalition Government, economic growth rate was converted from negative figures to 6.6% for 1999 with a 6% plus growth forecast for 2000. Chaudhry also stated that during that term, investment was boosted to unprecedented levels and 6,640 new jobs were created. He also stated that the government had allocated over $50m for poverty alleviation. He further stated: "Tariff on essential utilities was also lowered such as water, electricity and telephones, with Housing Authority interest rates for low income borrowers coming down from 11% to 6%". The People's Coalition Government was taken hostage on 19 May by terrorists backed by the SVT politicians, and some sections of the military as well as some sections of the business community. The government was kept hostage for 56 days. |
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People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
