Minister for Foreign Affairs Sakiasi Ditoka says history will ultimately judge Fiji not by infrastructure or political wins, but by the manner in which the country was governed, as the Coalition Government continues to face scrutiny over the Commission of Inquiry (COI) process.
In a statement posted on social media, Mr Ditoka said the Government was acting firmly within the law and remained committed to upholding the constitutional principle of separation of powers, despite strong public debate and political pressure.
“On the COI issue, I will say only this: the Government is acting within the law while upholding the constitutional principle of separation of powers,” he said.
Mr Ditoka acknowledged that disagreement was inevitable in a democracy, but stressed that it was not the role of politicians to override legal and constitutional processes.
“There will always be differences of opinion, but the courts and the constitutional bodies established to determine the way forward will have the final say — and that is democracy at its finest,” he said.
He noted that the Coalition Government inherited a Constitution it had no role in drafting, limiting how quickly or easily reforms could be made.
“We also inherited a Constitution we had no voice in creating. It cannot be changed casually,” Mr Ditoka said.
“But a Supreme Court decision has now opened a lawful pathway for reform. Until that process is completed, constitutional bodies cannot simply be abolished, regardless of political pressure.”
Reflecting on the Government’s time in office, Mr Ditoka said the reform journey had been difficult and, at times, uncomfortable, but necessary to restore integrity to governance.
“Predictably, our journey has been fraught with headwinds. Democracy is a messy affair — rarely comfortable and never pretty,” he said.
“Some have fallen along the way. But the rest of us have stayed the course.”
He reaffirmed the Coalition Government’s commitment to serving all Fijians, regardless of political affiliation.
“We are men and women of our word,” he said.
“We will continue the good fight — not for applause or politics — but for a Fiji governed with integrity, courage, and respect for its people. Whether you voted for us or not is of no consequence; we will do our best to serve you all.”
Mr Ditoka said meaningful governance was rarely glamorous, but its impact would endure beyond political cycles.
“This work isn’t flashy. But it is real. We are fixing what was broken while still delivering,” he said.
“History will judge not just what was built — but how Fiji was governed.”
