Fiji has raised eyebrows by replacing the country's chief climate negotiator Nazhat Shameem Khan midway through her term with little fanfare and no explanation.

Ms. Shameen Khan had gained praise for her work for Fiji which holds the presidency in the the current United Nations climate round called the COP23.  Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama described her replacement - Fiji's permanent representative to the UN in New York Luke Daunivalu - as a "team player" with the "personal qualities and experience to shape the consensus for more ambition the world needs to reach".  Shameen Khan would focus on her duties as Fiji's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva.

The website Climate Home News reported that the rift between Shameen Khan and the government in Suva appears to have been sparked by a power struggle between her and a group of consultants from Australia and Europe brought in to help the tiny nation present its concerns to the world powers that haven't acted like they give a hoot about global warming and rising seas.  When Shameen Khan objected to the growing influence the outsiders in the COP23,  Mr. Bainimarama took their side.  But two members of the Fijian delegation said the consultants aren't being helpful.

"To see a small island state in the presidency being closely managed and controlled by consultants from developed countries is not good for trust and goodwill," said one delegation member who declined to be identified.  "But (the consultants) refused to take a back seat and we had difficulties in relation to this."

Another member said, "Most of their advice and interference was harmful rather than helpful," and, "They undermined us and didn't understand the local dimensions."

Climate Home News also reported that Bainimarama denied suggestions he had been unduly influenced by the consultants as "false and mischievous".

A former member of Fiji's government said Shameen Khan's competence wasn't a good fit with Bainimarama's preference for strongman-style politics.

"There's only room for one person and if he feels threatened in any way, and he feels threatened very quickly, she is dispensable very-very quickly," lamented Robin Nair, who stepped down as Foreign Minister a year ago over Bainimarama's "iron fisted" governing style.  "It's a very dysfunctional government and anybody with strong opinions trying to intellectually help the government to be a better government and have good governance, they haven't got a place," he told Radio New Zealand.