28 Apr 2010

Samoa PM doubts Fiji leader will meet 2014 elections commitment

9:10 pm on 28 April 2010

Samoa's Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, says he doubts Fiji's interim leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, will meet his commitment to hold elections by 2014.

It's been a year since the Pacific Islands Forum leaders suspended Fiji over its failure to go back to democracy earlier.

There has been little change in the relationship in that time and Tuilaepa has repeated his call for the Forum secretariat to be moved from Suva.

He says it's ridiculous that an agency committed to democracy continues to base itself in a country under a military dictatorship.

And Tuilaepa says he doubts Fiji will return to democracy as long as Commodore Bainimarama is in charge.

"Bainimarama is moving towards filling every post, top post in Government, with army people. Coming to 2014 who will say they ought to be replaced. It is a lie that the Prime Minister is telling everybody that come 2014 there will be elections."