A copy of Filimone Waqabaca's resignation letter dated 23 March 2017, and obtained by Fijileaks, spells out why he is resigning as Fiji's High Commissioner to New Zealand. He hopes his resignation will be effective from 22 May 2017, with 19 May being his last day in the diplomatic service.
In his resignation letter Waqabaca says he enjoyed the brief term as a diplomat but as an economist who has been trained in both monetary policy formulation at the Reserve Bank of Fiji and later fiscal formulation at the Ministry of Finance, he feels the need for more challenging tasks to best test and utilize his skills.
"I need economic development challenges that will keep me interested and motivated. Economics and Finance are my areas of speciality and I feel that being a diplomat does not allow me to freely and fully utilise my skills to the benefit of the nation. I still have much more to offer in development economics before perhaps diplomacy in later years."
The other reason for his resignation is to commit to his family's farming business in Fiji.
"I want to assist in rebuilding the contribution of the agriculture sector to 20 per cent of GDP, which I know can be done."
Last October Waqabaca had challenged the agriculture industry in Fiji to double its output and chase down the tourism industry's share of Fiji's Gross Domestic Product. He had told Fijian exporters and their import partners in Auckland that agriculture can double its share of GDP and the New Zealand market is there for the taking. "We did it before and we can go back to that level of 20 plus contribution towards our GDP. And when we're talking about opportunities this is it, this is our market share, someone else's market share is bigger. That is the opportunity, grab it from them."
In his resignation letter Waqabaca also profusely heaped praise on Bainimarama (his former Finance Minister when Waqabaca was PS for Finance), wishing him all the best: "I have no doubt that his reign in Fiji will be unparalleled. He will always have my support."
Waqabaca also acknowledged the sterling guidance and direction he received from Robin Nair, the recently resigned Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs. (We will publish more extracts from Waqabaca's resignation letter in the future).
Fijileaks: We will also bring the inside story regarding Nair's resignation as Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs
UPDATE: We reported last year about alleged bullying and sexual harassment of some staff at the Fiji High Commission in London; we can now report that the First Secretary at the High Commission, following a lengthy investigation and directive from Fiji Foreign Ministry, has packed up her bags and returned to Suva; her deputy was recalled last year for alleged gross sexual misconduct against staff members. He was, among other complaints, accused of regularly squeezing the buttocks of an East European staffer, informing her that it was the Fijian Way of saying "Good Morning". It is believed the First Secretary refused to act upon the complaints from his victims, resulting in her recall by the Fiji Foreign Ministry.
"I need economic development challenges that will keep me interested and motivated. Economics and Finance are my areas of speciality and I feel that being a diplomat does not allow me to freely and fully utilise my skills to the benefit of the nation. I still have much more to offer in development economics before perhaps diplomacy in later years."
The other reason for his resignation is to commit to his family's farming business in Fiji.
"I want to assist in rebuilding the contribution of the agriculture sector to 20 per cent of GDP, which I know can be done."
Last October Waqabaca had challenged the agriculture industry in Fiji to double its output and chase down the tourism industry's share of Fiji's Gross Domestic Product. He had told Fijian exporters and their import partners in Auckland that agriculture can double its share of GDP and the New Zealand market is there for the taking. "We did it before and we can go back to that level of 20 plus contribution towards our GDP. And when we're talking about opportunities this is it, this is our market share, someone else's market share is bigger. That is the opportunity, grab it from them."
In his resignation letter Waqabaca also profusely heaped praise on Bainimarama (his former Finance Minister when Waqabaca was PS for Finance), wishing him all the best: "I have no doubt that his reign in Fiji will be unparalleled. He will always have my support."
Waqabaca also acknowledged the sterling guidance and direction he received from Robin Nair, the recently resigned Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs. (We will publish more extracts from Waqabaca's resignation letter in the future).
Fijileaks: We will also bring the inside story regarding Nair's resignation as Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs
UPDATE: We reported last year about alleged bullying and sexual harassment of some staff at the Fiji High Commission in London; we can now report that the First Secretary at the High Commission, following a lengthy investigation and directive from Fiji Foreign Ministry, has packed up her bags and returned to Suva; her deputy was recalled last year for alleged gross sexual misconduct against staff members. He was, among other complaints, accused of regularly squeezing the buttocks of an East European staffer, informing her that it was the Fijian Way of saying "Good Morning". It is believed the First Secretary refused to act upon the complaints from his victims, resulting in her recall by the Fiji Foreign Ministry.
