While the Coalition Government grapples along with itself, as issues continue to flow out of their pores like pus from old festered wounds, we take a break to commemorate the day we as a Nation became independent and when our journey together as a self governing, multi ethnic, former Colony begun.
I remember the excitement that day as I sat on my mother's lap and watched the celebration. I remember the small fiji flags. And most of all I remember the smiling faces, the cheers and the general feeling of optimism, although I did not have a clue what all the optimism was about at the time. I remembered going on to primary school and later leaving home for secondary school.
Seventeen years later, I was enjoying working life as a young adult with dreams of a bright future, when, BAM! Our serene peaceful and prosperous co-existence which prompted Pope John Paul in 1986 to say that Fiji was the way the World should be was forever shattered on 14th May 1987. Although the phrase which became a Tourism slogan lasted for years after that, it only scantly veiled the harsher realities that were now lurking beneath the BULA smiles. The ethnic and political wounds were opened and healing has eluded our nation until the Coalition Government came in to power in December 2022.
Or has the fractures deepened and the wounds gone septic?
The man that uttered the famous "sa noda na qaqa"(Victory is ours) after usurping power in 1987 was unceremoniously dumped by the ethno-nationalist iTaukei and their chiefs at the 1999 polls. He was offered a lifeline in 2018 to lead SODELPA into the elections. After failing to take the Party to power, SODELPA decided to remove him in 2020. He however managed to split the party and formed his own People's Alliance.
There was no outright winner at the December 2022 polls. The governing Fiji First Party achieved 26 of the total 55 seats available. SODELPA lost out heavily and were reduced to 3 seats. Nevertheless, those 3 seats became the pivotal decider for the next government. The pre-election coalition of the People's Alliance and the National Federation Party had also managed a total of 26 seats between them.
In the days immediately after the return of the 2022 writ of election, SODELPA's support became the hottest item at the capital.
The People's Alliance in trying to woe SODELPA pulled out all stops. Attached below is a copy of their proposed offering in exchange for SODELPA's support and I will now bring your attention to items 1 and 2 where the Gone Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Teimumu Kepa was earmarked for the Republic of Fiji Presidency at the expiry of the current President, Ratu Wiliame's term.
Ratu Wiliame was elected on 22nd October 2021 and subsequently sworn in on 12th November 2021. In recent weeks, social media has been rife with names of possible nominees for the Presidency. The absence of Ro Teimumu's name from among the names touted around the inner circles is deafening indeed.
Will Rabuka and his minions honor the offer that has conveniently disappeared from the Coalition agreement and show the virtues of true iTaukei culture of veivakaturagataki? Or will they trample on iTaukei tradition and then later perform a "lawakica" matanigasau to the Roko Tui Dreketi and the people of Burebasaga?
Only time will tell.
I miss my Fiji when it was the jewel of the Pacific.
