Fiji's governance needs to take a new direction in 2019 - Prasad

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says governance of Fiji needs to take a new direction in 2019 for all citizens to witness genuine parliamentary democracy and full restoration of fundamental human rights and freedoms that are prerequisites for real social, political and economic advancement of our nation.

In his New Year message, Prasad says there are many other challenges we face as a community and as a nation that can only be overcome through genuine unity, bipartisanship and sound and sensible leadership.

Prasad says that in Fiji, calling everyone Fijians and saying they enjoy common and equal citizenry doesn’t guarantee fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, freedom of association, worker rights, political rights, permanent tenure of employment particularly in the civil service, and freedom of the media.

Prasad adds that common and equal citizenry also does not guarantee job opportunities based on meri-tocracy, rendering common and equal citizenry meaningless and it does not guarantee decent and meaningful living wage.

He says the only way to restore harmony and peaceful co‑existence is for all leaders to work together and for government to embrace bipartisanship in Parliament.

Prasad adds that as a party born out of the struggle for dignity and justice of all our people 55 years ago, the NFP will continue the struggle for Fiji to once again become a beacon of hope and trust.

Prasad has wished the people of Fiji a happy, healthy, prosperous and blessed 2019.