Where is the former AG?

The new government has just announced $200 worth of back to school initiatives for each child in order to ensure their return to school will be stress free. Naturally, this is good news for parents who are already under the pump, dealing with sky-rocketing costs of living as well as an uncertain global economy.

In addition to this, the new government has announced that the school system will be reverted to the three term system. The fact the previous government chose to go for a four term system was rushed and needs further consultations. Fiji's education system is far behind international institutions and pushing a four term policy onto an education system built for a three term machinery simply did not work.

Quick to the mark to oppose the change was the former education minister and now opposition member. In her view, the decision is a regressive one and a four term system is warranted. Coming from someone who has never had any formal educational qualifications and a former (useless) CEO of the powerless Fiji Consumer Commission, its a bit rich and while the speech give via Facebook Live was no doubt written in a rush, it did indicate something interesting which you may have missed: it was not written by the former AG. In fact, the entire speech lacked the punch and low blows we have come to see come out of Fiji First whenever their former AG writes speeches for his ministers as they were prohibited from doing their own speeches.

The other interesting thing is that we do not have the former PM and now Opposition Leader, Frank Bainimarama coming out with his sledgehammer speeches to decry the latest move by the government. It is apparent that there is definitely something wrong in the Fiji First party to the point that its office is closed, despite the former Education minister advising there are people inside. I can only assume they must be either invisible people or microscopic. Nothing stirred. Not a creature. Not even a mouse.

Neither Frank nor his trusted steed have uttered anything publicly since the new AG advised the legal position they were taking to review the speeches made by Bainimarama, threatening the government and indirectly calling for an overthrow of government. Given the fact that neither men have their legal henchmen around them nor the ability to potentially influence the judiciary in their favor, just like moles, both men have gone into the ground. Either the Fiji First party is currently in the throes of a power tussle, or their defeat was too much to bear for for them; this being a result of the very constitution designed by their former AG. 

The former Education minister found it convenient to lie to the press easily when she announced that "it is the festive season so people are entitled to travel and spend the holidays with their friends and family." Anyone who takes an interest in human behaviour and human psychology will note the body posture and facial expressions when the lie was told.

Either way, there is one thing that must be noted. While the new government is still in the process of finding its feet, it really needs to start organizing itself a little more to ensure its not constantly stumbling over the legalities of everything it does. The people of Fiji have waited 16 years for this moment and are expecting a lot from the people they have elected to power. If they fail to deliver on their promises, it does not make them any better then Fiji First.