Member of the United Front for a Democratic Fiji and former Opposition Leader, Mick Beddoes said he stands by his comments that the Melanesian Spearhead Group has embraced dictatorship in Fiji.
Beddoes also said a newly elected democratic government in Fiji should review its relations with the MSG countries.
Beddoes also said the MSG countries like Papua New Guinea have gone far beyond just engaging with Fiji.
Meanwhile Beddoes has been branded as grossly irresponsible for a media interview he gave to ABC Australia which included scathing criticism of Fiji's partners in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
Beddoes told Radio Australia that Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu are “unstable” countries that have “embraced dictatorship” through their support for Fiji.
Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said it is clearly damaging to the interests of all Fijians that Beddoes had made these comments, in particular during a visit to Papua New Guinea by the biggest Fijian trade and investment mission ever to visit another country.
Sayed-Khaiyum said while the government is trying to expand Fiji's economic interests, create new investment, create jobs and develop regional partnerships, Beddoes is trying to sabotage that effort for his selfish political agenda.
Sayed-Khaiyum said insulting our Pacific and Melanesian partners in the manner he did is very unfortunate.
The Attorney General said that far from being unstable, PNG, the Solomons and Vanuatu are laying the foundation - with Fiji - for a new era of stability and prosperity in the region.
He also said Beddoes did not criticize Australia and New Zealand when they worked with the Bainimarama Government in the Electronic Voter Registration exercise.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
