Indians set to vote in Fiji elections

The country, which has Indo-Fijians comprising 44 per cent of its population, goes to polls in May.

The Fiji Labour Party (FLP), led by former Indo-Fijian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, is going to launch its election manifesto this weekend.

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Fiji, which has Indo-Fijians comprising 44 per cent of its population, goes to the polls in May.

The manifesto release, to be done at Nadi, known as the gateway to Fiji, will be attended by other party candidates.

Media reports quoted Chaudhry as saying, "Labour's 2006 election manifesto presents a dynamic set of policies, which deal with the key issues that confront our nation today."

Describing the five-year rule of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL)-led government as disastrous, an FLP press release stated that SDL had heightened social distress through escalating levels of poverty, declining standards of living, deteriorating health services and neglected infrastructure and utilities.

"We are confident that we can rebuild our tattered economy and return it to the dynamism of 1999-2000, and on this solid foundation of growth we will build a progressive, just and fair society," the Fiji Times newspaper quoted Chaudhry as saying.