Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Kadavu chiefs support Fiji military leader

Posted at 03:19 on 25 January, 2010 UTC

Traditional chiefs on the Fiji island of Kadavu are reported to have expressed their support for the interim government.

Radio Fiji reports that the chiefs have told the interim prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, that they want him to continue if developments are not completed by 2014.

Last year, he had said he would relinquish power in four years when elections would be held.

Commodore Bainimarama says he appointed four of his Colonels as Commissioners because he wanted rapid development in the country.

He has told the Kadavu community if the military had not staged the 2006 coup, no one else would have done what they are doing today.

The province’s traditional head, Ratu Jone Dukete, has told Commodore Bainimarama that the whole of Kadavu supports his leadership in bringing about development on the island.