Fiji: Chaudhry hangs on to job

Fiji's interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has managed to hang on to his job. A meeting has been held between Mr Chaudhry and coup leader Frank Bainimarama. It followed the closure of one of Fiji's largest water bottling plants, after the minister increased taxes by 20c a bottle. Few details have emerged and a journalist at the Fiji Sun newspaper says further discussions are taking place at Mr Chaudhry's residence. There have been rumours Commodore Bainimarama was planning to stand aside as Fiji's Prime Minister and take over as President. Such a move could give Bainimarama immunity from prosecution after the country returns to democratic rule and allow him to continue to have a say in how the country is run. Share this... [read full story]