Pacific way or Melanesian way?

(SOLOMON STAR) Cooperation, integration and unification in the Pacific island countries including Australia New Zealand are rhetoric and remain the much talked about issues in our Pacific Forum Leaders’ meetings. Decisions made in such meetings and agreed by leaders are equally important and expected to be upheld for their complete implementation and success.The Pacific Forum leaders meeting, early this year in Papua New Guinea, all agreed and resolved to find a leeway into Fiji’s issue in a bit to bring Fiji to civilian rule.The Forum leaders issued an ultimatum to Commodore Frank Bainimarama, the military coup leader demanding him to hold elections by the end of this year.However, individual countries/government at times wither backsliding or back tracking and find themselves in no man’s land.Just a week ago, after the Forum meetings in PNG, in an interview with Radio Australia Pacific Beat, Prime Minister of Samoa Hon. Tuialepa Silele asserted the leaders stand and criticised commodore Bainimarama of his imperious and flip-flopping behaviour and type of leadership and not respecting other forum leaders and to end its coup culture.Instantly, Hon Sela Molisa, Finance Minister of Vanuatu came out differently. He said island nations have too much to lose from any suspension and not in the best interest or not the best option, sighting that Fiji is the centre of many institutions like the University of the South Pacific (USP).Mr Molisa’s statement veered from his Prime Minister’s stand taken in Papua New Guinea. Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Edward Natape was in attendance and agreed on the ultimatum.The sentiment expressed by Mr Molisa displayed signs of internal wrangling in Vanuatu or information breakdown and also signs of the walls cracking between the blocks of Melanesian and Polynesian.The issue of Fiji was regionally dealt with; however, in my humble view as a citizen of the Pacific region, our leaders need to live up to expectations by upholding and maintaining important decisions regardless of ethnicity, race, country etc. etc.To pay lip service and antagonising efforts to assist a fellow country is absurd and sheer stupidity.The ultimatum issued was a clear message and will remain a message for not only Fiji but for all countries in the region.The message is that the Forum countries cannot afford to entertain and cannot accept the “coup culture takeover” by overthrowing a legitimate elected government by military backed takeover on the pretext of corruption clean up.It is crucial and important for political stability and economical strength and the region’s advancement that coup culture takeover be stamped out from our shores.Taking a tough stand would clearly tell future military leaders that such actions cannot be condoned and tolerated by countries in the region.So, I see that the ultimatum will enhance the regional unification and integration as well as consolidating Forum island countries in their common political will and aspirations thus creating the right atmosphere for good governance and achieving regional goals together.If Fiji is what maters most, it is time to tell Commodore Frank Bainimarama to come to his senses. It is time he tells the truth and cooperate and realise his action is not acceptable in the democratic world. Our leaders too must stop chicken out and do the right thing.For our leaders of the Forum, “well done. I salute you.” I would like to quote the wisdom of Shakespeare.He says: “There’s a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune.“Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallow and miseries.“On such a full sea, are we now afloat, and we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.”Clement Fakasori, Honiara.