FIJI TIMES : Sunday, April 20, 2008
Youths of Fiji should start lobbying for a national youth council, the Young People's Concerned Network said.
Spokesman Peter Waqavonovono made the comments today following revelations that Youth ministry staff Rupeni Silimaibau represented the interests of youths at the National Council for Building a Better Fiji.
He said a national youth council should be a body that could clearly represent youths and hold the mandate of youth.
We the YPCN only hold the mandate of youth activists, who come from a wide spectrum of NGO's and civil society. Even we cant clearly say we represent youths. But Rupeni is under the impression that he does, Mr Waqavonovono said.
He refuted Mr Silimaibaus earlier claim that the Provincial Youth Forum nominated a representative from its members to join the NCBBF.
Mr Waqavonovono said as far as he knew, Mr Silimaibau was on the NCBBF in his individual capacity.
The PYFFI did not nominate a representative. The PYFFI consists of youth representatives of different provincial councils.
Rupeni is the government employed project officer. He is not an executive of the PYFFI as we know it. The PYFFI executives should have at least met to decide whether they want to support the charter there has been no clear mandate to do so. Rupeni is a classic opportunist, he has no clear mandate to be on the NCBBF, he said.
Mr Waqavonovono said the presidents mandate had no links to the Peoples Charter.
If Mr Silimaibau has justified his position on the charter on the president's mandate, he has lied to the nation once again. We call on him again to stop saying that the youth of this nation support something that is not legal and unconstitutional like the charter, he said.
Mr Waqavonovono said Mr Silimaibau should be serious and ask the PYFFI executives to validate his position.
He called on Mr Silimaibau to stop making statements that youths wanted the charter.
The youths of this nation want employment, better health services, a more effective education system, a stable economy, and better opportunities, Mr Waqavonovono said.
Mr Silimaibau could not be reached for comment.