Page 11 - IB Jan 2018

2018 Outlook At the ballot Professor Brij Lal on Fiji Politics Why Narube joined the race
elections P14 for Parliament P15

DELPA and the National Federation Party,
the two have not been able to strike a pact.
The country has instead saw new parties
being registered to contest the 2018 elec-
tions including the Hope Party and Unity
Fiji Party.
His minister for economy, Attorney
General Sayed-Khaiyum has not been the
most popular of all his cabinet ministers,
but even his critics would agree that the
elections with his deputy and powerful man’s handling of the huge devastations constituency, Rick Houenipwela. Beyond
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston his country, he is known as Rick Hou and
The party has already asked for expres- in February 2016 was nothing less than remembered particularly for his coura-
sions of interests from people who want remarkable. With a damage bill of more geous and no-nonsense administration
to contest the elections under their FPP than $1 billion (USD487m), Sayed-Khai- of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands as
banner. yum introduced a raft of relief measures its governor during the years his country
Being the first Pacific Island leader to using a combination of foreign aid support went into ethnic and civil conflict.
head the UN’s Conference of the Parties and the country’s superannuation fund After Manasseh Sogavare lost the
negotiations on climate change, and also to help individuals and property owners prime ministership in a confidence mo-
being the first islander to chair for one rebuild and rehabilitate. And while eco- tion last November, Houenipwela crossed
year the powerful lobbying bloc, G77 plus nomic growth slowed down in 2016, the floor from the opposition to join
China, Bainimarama will be going into Fiji’s economy still registered a 2 Sogavare’s minority government with
the polls proud of his achievements per cent growth rate in that year. six other colleagues who are members
and determined to secure his second “Growth is forecast to rebound of the Democratic Alliance Party. As far
electoral victory. to 3.6 per cent in 2017 before as parties go, the DAP won the most
softening to 3 per cent in 2018,” Hou parliamentary seats in the 2014 gen-
The first time he took to the polls, Voreqe
in September 2014, after eight years noted the United Nations ESCAP So- eral elections, although the independents
of military rule when he ousted the gov- cial and Economic Review report on the including Sogavare formed the majority
ernment of then Prime Minister Laisenia Fiji economy. “Tourism-linked sectors with 32 seats.
Qarase in December 2006, Bainimarama and post-cyclone reconstruction work Now as Houenipwela leads his country
had several innovative and never before are expected to drive the economy. Aided into the next general elections this year,
seen policies to sell to voters. Foremost and by government financial assistance and there’s lots of hope and optimism that he
one that attracted many votes was his free subsiding inflation, private consumption will have time to apply his magic into Solo-
education policy for year 1 right through to should increase as households restock mon Islands’ economy. With RAMSI, the
year 13 students, as well as free bus fare consumer goods and rebuild houses. Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon
for students and the elderly. A common “In contrast, the preferential access of Islands that Australia funded and the rest
name for all in Fiji, irrespective of ethnicity sugar from Fiji to markets in the Euro- of members of the Pacific Islands Forum
won him a lot of votes as well among the pean Union is scheduled to end in 2017. supported formally withdrawing from the
Fiji Indian voters especially. Similarly on the downside, despite higher island nation in June last year, the former
His election strategists will have to capital spending budgeted for recon- central banker has his job cut out for him.
come up with something new this time struction activity, shortages of essential People complain of chronic corruption
around. His achievements in the world building materials and skilled labour may and corrosive abuse of public funds. 2018
stage while historic may not win him as continue to delay some major construction may reveal whether the new PM would
many votes as he would like. His oppo- work. Sustaining the country’s medium have enough time to tackle these and
nents will undoubtedly drew attention to term growth will depend on effective many more. He had said following his
the high salaries including the exorbitant implementation of structural reforms that election that the economy would be his
daily travel allowance he is paying himself, are aimed at enhancing the business cli- upmost priority.
as well as the chaos caused by major road mate, strengthening the civil service and According to UNESCAP’s Social and
construction and repair work that seemed State-owned enterprises and removing Economic Review report, capital in-
to be happening all at once in major urban impediments to land use.” vestments in communication and tuna
centres of the country. processing capacity will be the driver of
His ministers’ handling of the compul- Solomon Islands economic growth in Solomon Islands.
sory electronic transport card system and Much has been said and written about “Economic growth in Solomon Islands
the dispute at the Nadi airport ground the fickle nature of leadership in Melanesia was largely steady at 2.7 per cent in 2016
handling company, Air Terminal Services with the exercising some say willy-nilly relative to 2.9 per cent in 2015. Construc-
might cost him some votes too, but many almost with no regard for its economic and tion activity and new investment in com-
observers agree that the disunity among political costs of no confidence motions. munications and fisheries-processing ca-
his foes may be the key that would return However the outcome of such a vote pacity supported the economic expansion.
Bainimarama to another four years in in the national parliament of Solomon
power. Instead of calls for a grand coalition Islands last November could not have Continued overleaf
between the two main opposition parties produced a better candidate for prime web link:
currently represented in parliament, SO- ministership than MP for Small Malaita www.islandsbusiness.com

Islands Business, January 2018 11