Royal couple visit to Fiji called 'apolitical'

Transcript

BEN ROBINSON-DRAWBRIDGE:  How big of a deal is this visit for Fiji?
 
KELVIN ANTHONY: For the Fijian people, we will find out tomorrow when the Royal Couple arrive into the country and make their way to the Capital for the official welcome ceremony at Albert Park to see how excited and enthusiastic Fijians really are about this visit.But for the Fijian Government, it is a big deal. The streets of Suva have been cleaned up and big billboards of the Royals are up around the country.The Union Jack and the Fiji Flag can be seen everywhere. For Frank Bainimarama, he has hosted two recent state visits by the Chinese Premier and the Indian Prime Minister. The Royal Visit will be another star on his chest and with elections just three weeks away, there is no doubt it will give him bragging rights during campaigning.
 
BRD: When was the last royal visit to Fiji?
 
KA: The last member of the British royal family to visit was  Princess Anne in 2006 - before the Bainimarama coup.
During the visit, two men were charged for attempting to breach security on two separate occasions, although nothing serious happened. The Fijian Government will be very strict on security this time around.
 
BRD So what will the royal couple be doing?

KA: The general theme of the royal couple's visit is to focus on young people, environmental preservation and the empowerment of women and girls. They will be greeted by a guard of honour at the airport before calling on the President at State House in Suva. Then they will attend the official welcome ceremony at Albert Park which is a public event. The ceremony will be followed by a state dinner and reception at the Grand Pacific Hotel hosted by the President. Prince Harry will be speaking there. On Wednesday, Prince Harry will lay a wreath at the War Memorial in Suva, and meet a number of Fijian war veterans, before visiting the University of the South Pacific. The royal couple will also observe a cultural performance on the effects of climate change. Before they leave for Tonga on Thursday the Royal Couple will unveil a statue of Sgt Taliasi Labalaba who was British-Fijian soldier of the elite British air services who lost his life in 1972.
 
BRD: Are political parties raising any concern about the visit being so close to the election?

KA: The Government has released a statement about the nature of the visit. It has assured people that the Royal Visit was organised well before the election date was fixed and will be non-political in nature. According to a Government statement, Fiji's opposition leader will join the president and prime minister in greeting and farewelling the royal party. She will be seated with them at the head table at the state dinner to which all leaders of political parties have been invited. This is to indicate the non-political nature of the visit. However, a former foreign affairs official, Robin Nair, who had a falling out with the government, has gone on record saying the visit "could interfere with the general election" and that the "timing is not right".  
 
Fiji is going to the polls in less than 20 days and political parties have the right to be sceptical, although there have been no statements from the parties rejecting the royal visit.