Fiji laid off employee angry at Qarse
Sun, 11 Feb 2001 09:57:24 +1200
PEOPLE'S COALITION GOVERNMENT, FIJI Issue No: 467 11 February 2001
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"I am angry at Qarase" - says laid off employee
Workers are now increasingly expressing their frustrations at the Qarase regime for their fate. Over 18 thousand workers
lost their jobs after the terrorists struck Fiji's Parliament. Thousands others suffered reduced working hours and heavy
paycuts.
Workers were promised by Qarase that he and his regime will bring back stability and their jobs. But months into his
reign, employment has not picked up. Investment in Fiji is at a total standstill.
One ethnic Fijian employee in the tourism industry openly expressed his anger at the regime for making him "almost a
begger". The father of 3 said: "I accepted the reduced working days initially thinking that Qarase will get things back
to normal. But its been over 6 months now and I am still without a full-time job. I got bills to pay, and send my
children to school. Qarase does good things for the rich. I know people are talking about him being very close to the
Gujerati's [the ethnic Indian business community]. But what about us? I am angry at Qarase and his gang. They just fill
their pockets. I have told my wife we should migrate. But where do we go?"
The statement reflects the sentiments of an increasing number of workers in Fiji. Investors have already stated that
they will not invest in Fiji until the rule of law was respected and democracy reinstated. The Qarase regime has refused
to take heed of the advice from the investors.
END