Another forward step towards Fiji
One of the foremost events of significance that occurs at summits and conferences of world leaders is the opportunity that it creates for boosting bilateral relations and healing wounds caused by unfortunate developments.
One such great opportunity for New Zealand and Fiji occurred in London on April 19, when the two respective Prime Ministers Jacinda Ardern and Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama met on the side-lines of the Heads of Commonwealth Governments Meeting.
Ms Ardern pledged to take a new approach to regional cooperation, moving from simply being a donor toward becoming a more involved partner in the development of Fiji and other Pacific Island nations.
Bonded destiny
The ties that bind New Zealand and Australia and Fiji are clearly greater than the issues that sometimes divide them.
New Zealanders and Fijians are genuinely fond of each other and nothing is more important to Fiji than continuing to welcome the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who visit its shores every year. There are also tens of thousands of Fijians living either side of the Tasman, adding the richness of their culture to the great multicultural melting pot that is modern Australia and New Zealand.
Fiji is an important political and social entity and certainly a power in the Pacific.
Countries, big and small, must understand its penchant for equality for its citizens and parity with the rest of the world as an inalienable right.
Global nervousness
There is a certain but implicit nervousness among the advanced countries of the so-called ‘fully-developed nations’ over the developments unfolding in Fiji.
While this little, beautiful country of beautiful people have shown resilience over natural disasters, the government has shown fortitude and courage against odds and more importantly, failure of its powerful neighbours understanding its peculiar predicaments.
