If we must, let us close down Viti Levu for a month until we effectively take control of COVID-19, says former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
In a letter to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama last week, he said “a hard decision is taken to avoid a prolonged series of small, but just as hard decisions”.
Mr Rabuka also said if Fiji was in a war situation, as Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong had described it, the battle to contain and defeat COVID-19 must be approached in a national and bipartisan way.
He said when the Parliament Business Committee met a fortnight ago, it agreed the May Parliament sitting be suspended until further notice.
National businesses since was being transacted by Cabinet, a committee of Cabinet, a Task Force made up of selected ministers, Health Ministry permanent secretary, and co-opted professionals when their areas of expertise were required.
In his letter, Mr Rabuka said Fiji could learn a lot of lessons from the way Great Britain rallied and responded to World War II where the Opposition and the whole nation were actively engaged in matters of national interest.
“When we study the actions carried out by (Winston) Churchill’s government about taxation, borrowings, increasing agricultural production, recycling metals, mobilisation of women labour and soldiers, increasing food cultivation by 50 per cent, increase in agricultural acreage, ‘lend leasing’ concept, even food rationing so that the poor and working-class were not out-shopped by the affluent in society – there are many lessons Fiji can learn from our former colonial governors,” Mr Rabuka said.
Mr Rabuka said the FijiFirst Government should never take it as a matter of “we can’t do it alone anymore” but “we can do it a lot better together” from here on.
“The national coalition can even co-opt non-parliamentarians like Mr (Savenaca) Narube, for his experience in international financing institutions with honourable Biman Prasad in the economy front.
“The Hon Speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, Hon Ro Teimumu Kepa and Hon Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu for their input on vanua leadership for co-operation with government efforts, Hon Dr Ratu Antonio Lalabalavu to assist the Hon Minister for Health and Medical Services, the youthful Hon Lenora Qereqeretabua, (Lynda) Tabuya and (Simione) Rasova to work with the Minister for Youth in mobilising the youth efforts in food production and gainful employment outside the formal employment sectors.
There is no limit to what can be done when the national spirit takes the nation.
“Then, the Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Dr Fong and all who address the nation can be encouraged to change from using terms like “my team” to saying “your teams”. “Tovolea mada!”
