Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says he remains ready to lead the country as it enters election year.
The Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama at Government House in Auckland Photo: Alex Perrottet / RNZ
In his new year message to the country he urged people to vote on election day.
It will be the second election since Mr Bainimarama won a landslide victory at the polls in 2014, the first since he seized power in a coup in 2006.
While the election date is yet to be announced, Mr Bainimarama asked people to focus on real issues and rise above personal attacks and pettiness.
"As always, I stand ready to take Fiji into the future. I stand ready to keep Fiji atop the world, a leading nation among nations. And I stand ready to bring even greater opportunity and prosperity into the lives of every Fijian," he said.
Mr Bainimarama also said 2017 was a landmark year for Fiji which showed that a small-island nation could provide mature and responsible leadership on climate action and protecting oceans.