Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, CF
, MSD
, OStJ
, Fijian Navy, known commonly as Frank Bainimarama and sometimes by the chiefly title Ratu
(born 27 April 1954), is a Fiji
an naval officer and politician. He is the Commander of the Fijian Military Forces
and, as of April 2009, Prime Minister
. While serving as Prime Minister, he has also temporarily held various ministerial portfolios: Information, Home Affairs, Immigration, Public Service, Indigenous and Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Finance, and Foreign Affairs.
Bainimarama is an ethnic Fijian
.
"All the nation has been saddened by the extent to which the country has fallen during the last week. I have therefore, with much reluctance, assumed executive authority." (29 May 2000, announcing that he had taken over the government from President Kamisese Mara|Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara)./.
"If we don't act, this country is going to go to the dogs and no investor will want to come here." (8 December 2004)
"You have to give it (the tiger) room. If you don't give it room, it will bite you." (4 January 2005; seen as a veiled threat to politicians not to interfere with the military).
"If we don't put our foot down, they will release every man and his dog." (Criticizing the government's policy of releasing persons sentenced for involvement in the 2000 coup).
"I don't have to be nice to people who are causing great damage to the nation ... I refuse to be nice to people who want to overthrow what the military and the security forces have been doing to maintain law and order in this country in the past five years since the illegal overthrow of the Labour Government ... I refuse to be nice to people like Jioji Kotobalavu and Qoriniasi Bale. I don't have to be nice to anyone trying to destabilise what the army has built." (30 May 2005)
When we wrong God, he does not let us go, he makes us pay for our wrongs but through the death of his own son Jesus Christ. When God's people (Jews) wronged him, he weakened them in battle and caused them to be captives in Babylon for 70 years.
"Let's do right in the eyes of God!"
"Coups will be taken lightly if we condone this Bill, without justice there is no peace. If you honourable chiefs agree that those involved in the coup be forgiven, it will prove that we support the wrong and will be at odds with the integrity of God."
"Our Fiji today is a new Fiji where individual freedom is protected and not a Fiji solely for Fijians. Wise decisions from this august house will promote multiracial harmony and true friendship.
"This Bill is not about crime committed within one group of people but involves many races living in Fiji. Therefore we can not apply one law onto another. We need to protect the whole population; the different faiths; cultures and traditions."