FIJI’S Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has urged the Opposition to engage with young people and to do so with urgency.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday in response to President Jioji Konrote’s address in Parliament, Mr Bainimarama told MPs they must seek to understand the many ways secondary school students were witnessing technology re-shape Fijian schools and Fijian societies at large.
“And we must endeavour to match the hunger of our young entrepreneurs to seize emerging opportunities in our growing economy,” he said.
“How, one might ask Honourable Speaker? Very simple, by opening our ears to what our youth have to say and by involving them in the decisions we make. I urge the Honourable Members of the Opposition to do so with urgency by actually engaging with young people, they may actually stand a chance at tethering their contributions to the realities young Fijians live every day.”
Mr Bainimarama said whether he was speaking with young people in their schools and communities or standing beside them at the height of global leadership, he listened often and intently to their concerns and ideas.
“As far as they are concerned, an open and inclusive democracy is not some revolutionary ideal, it is their societal baseline.
“They will expect nothing less in a Fiji where the votes matter equally, their voices are taken seriously and their Government positively and honestly acts to secure them new and better opportunities.”
