The Fiji Election of 2006

I have been reading the Fiji Times online and recently it started to flag the coming Fiji general election in 2006. The Fiji Labour Party is on record calling for an early election. Amongst other things, I personally believe that the FLP's main reason for the call was a consequence of the introduction of The Reconciliation Tolerance and Unity Bill in Parliament.

This led me to reminisce about my late lawyer friend, Mr Kelemdi Bulewa, who was the attorney general immediately after the 14 May 1987 coup. As I was about to migrate to Australia, I went to see him on a land case and we spent time discussing the coup and its consequences. He told me in confidence that he and Visanti Makrava, who was his good school mate at Lelean Memorial School, spoke earlier in the morning. Amongst other things, Visanti asked him to use his influence to procure Rotuma a seat, and if possible two (one for the Rotumans in Fiji and the other for our folks in Rotuma) in the House of Representatives. Bulewa told me that he promised Vinny that he would do his utmost and indicated that the consensus amongst the military government then was that Paul Manueli would be appointed Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee and with Paul's assistance, the Constitution would provide at least one seat for a Rotuman member in House of Representatives.

The reasons Bulewa gave were :

1. that we Rotumans are land owners like the Fijians, and ownership was one of the reasons for the coup;
2. that Rotuma was ceded to Gt. Britain like Fiji;
3. the special relationship fostered between Rotumans and Fijians through many years of working together;
4. the loyalty we Rotumans gave in service to the country, in war and peace keeping duties;
5. that Fijians can always count on Rotumans to back them up;

Vinny's request came to fruition in the adopted Constitution of 1997.

With this in mind, I'd also like to make special mention of the effort of the Rotuma Island Council and that of the three gentlemen--my father Taksas, representing the RIC; Sosefo Inoke, who acted as legal advisor and counsel; and Fatiaki Misau, as DC Eastern--who put together and presented Rotuma's submission to the Constitutional Review Committee in 1995. In their submission they argued that Rotuma should be represented by a Rotuman member in the House of Representatives.

As a result of the hard work done by the RIC and these men, Rotuma now has a member to the the House of Representatives, which Mrs Marieta Rigamoto won in the last election. From what I read and heard it was fought fair and square, and it was a close and a tough campaign for the contestants. I was also told that the results could have gone either way, and that Mr Kafoa Pene was defeated by a very narrow margin to Marieta. With this in mind, I do hope that Marieta gives this another go for she has done well in her term, but opinions reveal that it's usually the second term that MPs and governments are able to properly carry out their plans and promises.

However, we should give some thought to what John Fuata said in the last paragraph of his commentary about the Rotuma Lands Commission: that "Rotumans should select very carefully the candidate of their choice in the coming general elections in 2006, and ensure that the clique and their associates do not enter Parliament through the Rotuman ticket." But his failure to be specific about the "clique and their associates" does not really forewarn Rotumans as to who to look out for. That information, I believe, will have an impact on the election, but John's failure to be forthright about the clique may be too late to persuade voters when the time comes.

Thus I sincerely hope that whoever is the next Rotuma Member to the House of Representatives is :

1. A fair dingkum Rotuman who will vigorously speak up and pursue issues in Parliament for the benefit, welfare, development etc. of Rotuma. A person who won't be a yes/no MP who will be silent on important issues during Parliament sessions.
2. A person who has foresight and plans for Rotuma's development, and who will follow through in Parliament. Voters will need to listen carefully, be rational, use their heads and not be fooled by empty promises.
3. A person who will regularly visit Rotuma in order to familiarise him/herself with the happenings and needs there. I have previously said this in earlier letters to the Forum--that our folks in Fiji are adequately catered for by the different MPs in the areas they reside in, but the folks in Rotuma need special attention. But having said this, the person who will be our next MP must keep in mind that some issues affect all Rotumans.
4. A person who would fairly represent us and would do the right thing by all, or the majority of Rotumans, especially in relation to the Rotuma Lands Act. Given the size of Rotuma, we Rotumans must be registered under both paternal and maternal sides. It would be a big mistake for Rotuma to follow the Fijians and be registered only under the father's side as in their VKB. If that were the case, there wouldn't be enough land for some clans, especially those with a lot of clan members. Any candidate who advocates that must be rejected at the next election.
5. A person who will be easily accessible to all Rotumans and be willing to sacrifice their time to participate and attend community events instead of an aloof person who will sit on a pedestal and be hardly seen until the next election in 2010.
6. A person who is willing to help and be impartial when dealing with Rotuman issues, especially in matters where friends and relatives are opposed to other members of our community.
7. A person who has done the right thing by the Rotuma Island Council and was endorsed by the Council, even though I have failed to find in the abrogated Constitution of 1997 Part II Section 51(1a (iii)) that an aspiring candidate must seek RIC endorsement. However, protocol dictates that he/she must do that and the Council must be impartial in it's dealings.

Thus as Fiji is propelled towards the next General Election, I pray and hope that voters will exercise their rights wisely and elect the best person to represent Rotuma. I'd also ask that Rotumans keep in mind the above and vote wisely, without getting too emotional.

Henry Enasio
Sydney Australia
Submitted 13 June 2005

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I would like to add these comments to those articulated by Mr. Henry Enasio on this subject matter. In my opinion, holding a public debate for the five aspiring parliamentary candidates would be the most simple and quickest way to assess them. A small interviewing panel of say four or five at the most, including the Chairperson, would be adequate. The core issues would be on Rotuman affairs but there must be questions, say 30-40 percent, on Fiji-wide matters that would also affect our people. Lest we forget, the parliamentary chamber is intended for the well-read and best-informed minds who would analyse the bills before that august house and bring about laws that are relevant and fair to society.

Rupeti P Mua
Lami
Submitted 11 April 2006

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In response to Rupeti Mua’s comments I would like to add these:

I am more than happy to be part of that process. Indeed I am more than happy to answer any questions that anyone is willing to answer about my candidacy or about the National Alliance Party.

One thing that became obvious in my visits to the various Rotuman communities is that Rotumans forget that they have two votes: one for the Rotuman Communal seat and the other for the Open seat, and do not place any importance to the latter. The Open seat is determined by where you live. For example, the Rotumans in Rotuman vote for the Lau/Taveuni/Rotuma Open seat. The person who wins this seat has a responsibility for the Rotumans in Rotuma as well as the citizens in Lau and Taveuni. Similarly, the Rotumans in the constituency of Suva City will vote for the Open candidates for that area, one of whom is Ratu Epeli Ganilau, the President of my party, the National Alliance.

We tend to think of the Rotuman Communal candidate as solely responsible for all the Rotumans including those in Rotuma. I urge the Rotuman voters to exercise their votes in the Open seats for their respective areas wisely because this candidate has a responsibility for them as a voter in their constituency as well as the Rotuman that wins the Rotuman Communal seat, for which I am one of the 5 candidates. But I have to agree with Rupeti Mua that the Rotuman Communal member’s responsibility should be more focused on the interests of the Rotumans in Rotuma. So don’t ignore the Open member in your areas. Vote wisely because this person can help us.

Faiaksea,

Sosefo Inoke
Suva
Submitted 20 April 2006

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As an investor and a person greatly concerned for our people on Rotuma Island, I would like to wish all the aspiring candidates for the seat of Rotuma all the best in the coming elections. The person who will best assist the people of Rotuma and the small business operators is one who will have his office open for continual discussion on all matters. Such a person must be able to foster good working relationships with all communities in Fiji, the government of the day, the Council of Rotuma, and Rotumans at home and abroad.

During his term, this person must deliver essential government services and improve Rotuma's infrastructure. Small business in Rotuma cannot survive or prosper without a good infrastructure in place. The small business operators on Rotuma Island can benefit from government assistance programs that may not be known to them.

The people voting for the Rotuma seat must vote wisely so the next five years are not wasted. Good planning will go a long way toward achieving short and long term goals over the next five years. The results will allow people to assess the successful candidate and the government of the day come the next general election.

Alalum,

Fuata Jione
Brisbane
Submitted 30 April 2006

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