It has been clearly established that the proposed Fiji First Party is not using the Fiji Coat of Arms. The Fiji National Coat of Arms consists of the images of two Fijian warriors on either side of a shield and the motto “Rerevaka na Kalou ka Doka na Tui” below the shield.

The shield from the coat of arms has the image of a lion holding a cocoa pod across the top, sugarcane, a coconut palm and bunch of bananas are represented in three of the shield’s sections. The fourth contains the reproduction of a dove of peace, the main feature of the Cakobau Government’s flag before cession. The proposed party is using the shield displayed on the Fijian flag.

When questioned by Fijivillage, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said claims that the proposed Fiji First Party is using the Fiji Coat of Arms are misleading. Sayed-Khaiyum said people who are making the claims may be just seeking publicity. The United Front for a Democratic Fiji which is made up of SODELPA, NFP, Fiji Labour Party and the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions said it will not change its stand that the Prime Minister’s proposed Fiji First Party is using the Fiji Coat of Arms. When questioned by Fijivillage, UFDF spokesperson Mick Beddoes admitted that only parts of the Coat of Arms have been used by the proposed Fiji First. But he said the proposed political party’s intentions are clear. Source: Fijiivillage News; Fijileaks Editor: Oddly, Fijivillage had not reported UFDF's original statement regarding the Coat of Arms but ran to Khaiyum for comments; neither did it use the photo (see above) which proves to the contrary.

But according to the Decree Section 104 (3)

“The Electoral Commission must then disregard any total number of votes received under the name of any political party or any independent candidate that has not received a total that is at least 5% of the total number of votes received by all the political parties and independent candidates.”

I have shaded in yellow those who do not make the 5% threshold of 27,000 votes.
i.e. Party E and the Independents 2 and 3 are OUT and will not be in Parliament.
So all their votes are wasted.
Independent 1 is elected with certainty (but with 30,000 votes).

The votes of Party E and all the Independents are excluded, in calculating the numbers of candidates from the political parties A, B, C and D, eligible to go into Parliament.
Hence 49 parliamentary seats have to be allocated to Parties A, B, C and D. and strictly in proportion to the votes they have received.

Table C gives in Column (3) the exact proportions of the total votes received by Parties A, B, C and D
Column (4) gives the exact number of parliamentarians they are entitled to (including the fractions)
Column (5) gives the numbers rounded up, so as to add up to 49 exactly.

[The more accurate method is to keep giving whole numbers to the parties with the largest fractions until you get 49: i.e you would start with Party B which was entitled to 19.97, round it up to 20, then Party D (round 5.94 up to with 6) then Party C (round 4.86 up to 5). By that time you will already have 49, and so Party A does not an extra parliamentarian for the fraction 0.24]
When you add the 1 Independent, you get a total of 50 required for the parliament.

Lesson 1 Parties need to be prepared for a “hung” parliament

In the particular arithmetic example I have given above (Table C), the outcome is a “hung parliament” with no Party receiving a majority of 26 out of 50. With the five parties (FFP, SODELPA, FLP, NFP, PDP) contesting, this may well be the likely outcome. For fun, readers can try various coalitions post-election, which would give a minimum of 26. Even the one Independent or the small parties might become “king-makers”: eg B, C and the Independent. But there are many other lessons that parties, candidates and voters need to consider.
How are individual parliamentarians chosen? Because this is an “Open List” system, whatever the original List provided by the contesting parties, their candidates will be ranked by the numbers of votes they receive. (not the party ranking) Thus, if Party A is entitled to 18 seats in Parliament, then the first 18 in order of votes received will be selected.

The remain 32 candidates will not be selected (assuming that each party puts up 50 candidates).
This Open List system has the undeniable advantage that really unpopular candidates are not going to get into parliament just because they have joined a popular party. But they could still get in, if their other colleagues are equally unpopular. If voters decide to vote only for “The Leader”, then some of the minor candidates may not get enough votes to make it to the top of the List (see Table E below). Parties will have to agree with their candidate where they should campaign in order to win not just maximum votes for their party, but also for themselves as individuals. Many candidates will want to campaign only in the populous areas where there are large numbers of voters, or where they feel they have the best chance.
Few will want to campaign in widespread areas where the numbers of voters are small, and the costs of campaigning will be high.

Lesson 2 Not only will each Party be competing against other parties, but candidates within each party will also be competing against each other.

Lesson 3 Some candidates will have to “sacrifice” their own chances of being elected, in order to campaign in remote less densely populated areas, in order to win maximum votes for their parties, even if they themselves do not win.

The impact of the 5% threshold

Table E shows very clearly, why the system is stacked against small parties and Independents (shown in green), because of the 5% threshold clauses in the Decree.

In the whole parliament, each of the 50 parliamentarians represent some 10,800 voters (last row and last column). But Parties A, B, C and D roughly get 1 seat for every 9,200 votes they receive (last column). In contrast, Party E with 25,000 votes does not get a single seat although in a strict proportional system they would have been entitled to at least 2 seats. Neither do Independent 2 (with 20,000 votes) or Independent 3 (with 11,000 votes) get elected, even though they have got more than the averages for the other parties. Independent 1, who gets elected with 30,000 votes, had more than three times the average for those elected from the parties.

In the example above, all the votes for Party E and Independents 2 and 3 are totally wasted.
Even Independent 1 who gets elected (but with 30,000 votes) is wasting the votes of some 20,000 or two thirds of his/her supporters. Had these 30,000 votes gone to any party, they would have elected 3 parliamentarians.
Effectively, their loss will be gained by the larger parties. If the ultimate objective of candidates is to get into parliament and affect government policy, either as part of government or as Opposition, then Independents and small parties would be strongly advised to negotiate with the larger parties to obtain agreement on common manifestoes, and join them rather than going on their own.

Lesson 4 This system is biased against small parties and Independents: they should consider joining like-minded large parties with similar manifesto objectives.

Lesson 5 Voters must understand that at least two thirds of their votes for Independents will be wasted, even if their candidate is successful. All their votes will be wasted if the Independent does not get the minimum of 27,000. Votes.

Lesson 6: Votes for large parties will not be wasted, even if the candidate voted for does not get elected. Even these votes are amalgamated for the Party and counted towards the Party share.

How many votes will “successful” party parliamentarians get?

Suppose that Party A is led by a nationally popular Leader and the total votes received (169,000) entitles Party A to receive 18 seats in Parliament (as in my example above).
All the candidates of Party A will be ranked in order, by the number of votes received, going down from The Great Leader down to Candidate 50 (as in Table E). In the example here, out of the 169,000 votes going to Party A, The Leader has received 118,400 votes, Candidate 2 has received 15,000, Candidate 3 has received 10,000 votes. The other 15 who get elected to Parliament received less than 3,000 votes each, going to the 18th parliamentarian, who has got only 200 votes but is elected. These fifteen (plus the first three) are all elected under the Party’s quota of 18 seats in Parliament, largely because of the large number of votes garnered by the Leader. (Note: this weakness would apply equally to a “Closed List” system)

But the fact remains that the Electoral Decree, disqualifies Independents and candidates for all small Parties who receive less than the 5% threshold (less than around 27,000) even if they receive far more than those elected under the umbrella of Party votes.

In the example below, 17 out of the first 18 would not have been elected as Independents.

Lesson 7 Under this Electoral Decree, the claim of “one person-one vote-equal value” has little value for those who vote for Independents and small parties which end up not receiving the minimum threshold of 5% of votes cast (roughly 27,000 votes).

Women are unlikely to be represented fairly

Under the Closed List system (which most Parties had advocated to the Ghai Commission), women could have had a reasonable chance of being placed at the top of the different Party Lists and hence automatically elected, as part of their party quota.
But with the Open List system, women are back to the same situation they had with previous elections.

Given the harsh campaigning requirements, and the unwillingness of voters (both men and women) to vote for women candidates, good women candidates are unlikely to stand, and if they do, unlikely to be elected in reasonable numbers.

The one saving grace with the one national constituency is that good women candidates (as with good men candidates) will be able to appeal to all voters in Fiji and accumulate reasonable numbers of votes.

Lesson 8 Women candidates, in addition to espousing their good party policies, need to appeal especially to women voters (who comprise 50% of all voters), to vote for good women candidates, whose policies they agree with.

See:http://narseyonfiji.wordpress.com/2014/03/31/election-issues-bulletin-7-the-2013-bkc-open-list-system-professor-wadan-narsey-31-march-2014/

The UFDF says according to the Coat of Arms of Fiji (Restriction of Use) Act only the Prime Minister can authorize the use of the Fiji Coat of Arms? The use of the Coat of Arms for his proposed party is a clear abuse of authority.

In a statement issued today the UFDF said that while Australia and New Zealand eagerly remove its effective travel restrictions on the regime, they remain oblivious and detached from the realities on the ground despite the existence of clear signs of manipulation and deception. A case in point is the use by Bainimarama of the countries Coat of Arms as his proposed party’s logo. The ufdf says the law states quote:-

Prohibition of use of Coat of Arms

2.—(1) No person shall, except with the written authority of the Minister, use for any purpose whatsoever the armorial ensign and supporters granted by Royal Warrant dated 4th July, 1908 which are the Coat of Arms of Fiji and no person shall use any design which in any way resembles such Coat of Arms in a manner likely to deceive. (Amended by 14 of 1975, s. 74).
(2) This section shall not affect the existing right of the proprietor of a trade mark containing the Coat of Arms of Fiji to continue so to do.
(3) The Minister may grant authority under subsection (1) subject to such conditions as he may deem fit.
(4) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) or who is in breach of any condition referred to in subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.

Restriction on proceedings

3. No proceedings for an offence under this Act shall be instituted except with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

STATEMENT

"Today I lodged a formal complaint against Mr Frank Bainimarama, the Fiji Sun, Dr Luveni, Razor, CJ Patel, Fiji Village and FBCL with the Sabeto Police Station at shortly after 2pm today, Sunday March 30th 2014.

The complaint is based on the above mentions individuals and organizations breaching the provisions of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Decree No 4 of 2013.

I believe the above mentioned individuals and organizations have reached Part II of the decree in particular:-

3 (1)  An association of persons or an organization shall not operate, function, represent or hold itself out to be a political party unless it has been registered as a political party in accordance with the provisions of this decree.

(2)  If any association of persons or an organization operate, function, represent or hold itself out to be a political party without being registered in accordance with the provisions of this decree, then any person who is a member of or holds office in any such association or organization commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine of $50,000 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or both.   

Sec 3  Amended

(2A)  If any media organization reports, represents or holds out an association of persons or an organization as a political party when that association of persons or an organization is not registered as a political party under the Decree or when its application for registration has not been determined by the Registrar, then the directors of that media organization and the editor and publisher or the Chief Executive officer of that media organization, as the case may be, commits an offence, and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or both”

The Police post has acknowledged receipt of my formal complaint and has asked that I submit a written

complaint in the prescribed statement document which I am currently doing and will submit later today.

Authorized By:   Mick Beddoes."

Prime Minister JOSAIA VOREQE BAINIMARAMA today unveiled the name of his proposed party. Bainimarama says FijiFirst is a name that encompasses his political beliefs. A 40-year-old Bedford bus, hired from Island Buses and refitted with the party logo, was presented at the My Suva picnic park in Nasese just after midday. This is the message Bainimarama read to journalists.

My fellow Fijians ….Bula Vinaka and a Good Afternoon

It feels good to be among you in the park on this beautiful Sunday. We are at a special moment in the history of Fiji.

We are here today to make a very significant announcement as we get closer to our country’s first ever truly democratic elections. On17 of September, the moment will come to choose whether to forge ahead or go back to the past.

Today I take much pleasure and pride in announcing the name of my proposed party….Fiji’s only political movement that will truly put every Fijian first.

People of Fiji I give you the proposed “Fiji First” [EDITOR'S NOTE: At this point the proposed party logo was unveiled on a 40-year-old Leyland bus. The bus, hired from Island Buses, was fitted with stick-on Fiji flag in the background.)

The name of my party reflects what I truly believe in … A Fiji where every Fijian regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, status, colour, gender and creed is considered equal … where every Fijian is put first in relation to our collective progress, success and growth as a nation.

My political movement and I are getting ready to take each one of you on a journey…whether you be a commoner or a chief; a shop keeper or a consumer; a landowner or a farmer; an office worker or a labourer; a woman or a man;a pensioner or a youth; a city dweller or someone living in our maritime or rural areas. We have to travel together to become the pride of the Pacific and the world.

I need you all…all Fijians to come with me on this journey, I need you to believe in my goal for a united Fiji; a honest Fiji; a corrupt free Fiji; a Fiji where the poor no matter where or who they are, are taken care of; a Fiji where the rich are more generous; a Fiji where the government is caring and loving, a just Fiji where no one is discriminated against.

I want a new Fiji where we have basic amenities for everyone, jobs for all Fijians, an educated Fiji, a smart Fiji and a happy and successful Fiji for all Fijians.

My government started this journey for a new Fiji…a Fiji where you Fijians are put First…we have had many successes in a short time….we now have free education for all Fijian children; our roads are being upgraded and new ones being built; more Fijians have access to electricity now than ever before; more Fijians have access to drinking water than ever before; our youth are now given more opportunities through the scholarship program and the tertiary education loan scheme; we now have pensions for those over the age of 70; we now have three universities all of them funded by the Fijian government; we have introduced new laws that protects and empowers our women and children; we are now giving more recognition and rights to Fijians with disabilities;my government has ensured that iTaukei land now has actual and real protection for the first time so the iTaukei will always keep ownership of their land; we have reduced corporate tax to encourage businesses to create and sustain jobs; we have modernized numerous laws to bring Fiji into the 21st century and clean up the mistakes of the past; we have created new opportunities and economic growth by putting in place fiscal policies that generate confidence and encourage investment; we have reduced personal income tax and increased income tax thresholds so that those who earn less take more money home; we have brought about equality for all iTaukei ensuring that lease monies and access to education are not just for the elite iTaukei but for commoners also; we now have free text books and subsidized bus fares for our school children who come from poor families; …these are just some of the things that we have achieved in such a short time.

My government is delivering on our vision of a Fiji that recognizes, very simply, we are all Fijians. We will at the same time celebrate and protect the rich and diverse mixture of traditions and indigenous culture that builds a strong united Fijian community.

But we have much more to do. The work that we started must continue. If the work is completed under the proposed FijiFirst, we will become more prosperous, Fiji will be more peaceful and Fiji will become a stronger nation. You and your families will have a better future. But the work my fellow Fijians cannot be completed without you coming along with me on this journey…we all need to put Fiji first…the proposedFijiFirst needs you. No longer do the interests of a select few come before what is good for all Fijians. We must put Fiji first.

Next week I will take leave from work and begin my journey on this bus to meet everyday Fijians like you…I need your signatures to register the proposed FijiFirst…I need your thoughts, your ideas and well wishes and your support. I invite you to come and talk with me as I travel the country. Some of you haven’t chosen a party yet, others may have already registered for another party. Regardless, let’s get together and talk anyway. We must face the challenges of the future together…..you and I must put Fiji first.

My fellow Fijians it’s a great day today …..and I believe it’s going to be better as we head off home now to see our victorious Fijian 7’s team continue to do well……as we try to win back to back tournaments….it’s symbolic that the proposed FijiFirst is launched on a day when all Fijians come together as a nation.

Thank you and vinaka vakalevu and have a good day. Source: http://republikamagazine.com/2014/03/fijifirst-is-bainimaramas-proposed-party/

NEPOTISM is at the heart of the Bainimarama Government & Party.

His brother WITH NO EXPERIENCE is High Commissioner to Malaysia.

His daughter, Litiana, WITH NO EXPERIENCE is CEO of The Fiji Sports Council

His daughter, Rubyann, WITH NO EXPERIENCE is Manager of the National Net Ball Team

His brother in law, Francis KILLER Kean,

-  Only served a few months of his manslaughter Prison sentence.

- Became Commander of the Navy when NO CONVICTED CRIMINAL is allowed to be an officer in the Navy

- Became a Permanent Secretary in PSC when NO CONVICTED CRIMINAL is allowed to be a PS under PSC rules.

- Frank gave Francis a MASSIVE PAY RISE in November 2013.

FRANK HIMSELF LIKES A FEW PERKS.

- Million Dollar Salary

- Millions to fund his jet set overseas holidays

- $200,000 Back Pay Scam

- No investigation into CRW deaths

- Escaped Prison for treachery by abrogating the Constitution.

KRAIYUM PAYS is also keen on looking after his family.

Brother Riyaz, runs FBC the propaganda arm of the regime.

- He is paid over $200k.

- FBC has borrowed over $20m from the Fiji Development Bank and it can’t even pay back the interest. Aiyaz got the gogovernment to guarantee the loan and insists all government departments spend most of their marketing budget with FBC

Aunty Nur Bano Ali

- She got over $500k for consultancy project on Rewa Dairy.

- She takes commission / handling fee on regime million dollar salaries handled by her firm

- Overseas investors looking to work with the regime must use her firm as consultants

Aiyaz himself

- Million Dollar Salary

- Back handers from various companies including company that installed new FBC transmission equipment installed for over $5m.

- Nice deal selling his house to Tappoos for 3 times value.

NEPOTISM IS OUR POLICY

By PROFESSOR WADAN NARSEY

The ELECTORAL DECREE 2014 (DECREE NO. 11 OF 2014) is finally out, suggesting that voting will be a nightmare for voters.

There will be one national constituency to elect 50 parliamentarians in a proportional system, based on “Open Lists” (another article on that).

Even before the Decree was issued, Bainimarama stated on his campaign trail that voters will choose from 250 candidates from five political parties (presumably with each party putting forward 50 candidates).

But the Schedule at the end of the Electoral Decree 2014 indicates the possibility of 280 candidates (presumably also allowing for 30 Independents).

The Decree expects that the voter will face one massive ballot paper, with 280 squares, with each square having a number, name of candidate and photo (the  Decree says nothing about a party symbol to go with the candidate).

The numbers, between 135 and 414,  will be randomly allocated to the candidates.

In the polling booth, the voter will have to locate his/her preferred candidate, and circle, tick or cross the one square, out of these 280 squares.

The voting nightmare

There are hundreds of thousands of voters throughout Fiji, who may have great difficulty in finding their preferred candidate on such a large ballot paper with 280 names and numbers.

Some political parties or candidates might quite sensibly think that they could help their supporters to take a small piece of paper, with the number of their preferred candidate written down.

But sorry, Section 52 (2) of the Electoral Decree states:

 “It shall be unlawful for any person to bring into a polling station or polling venue any type of paper or any specimen or sample of a ballot paper or any card or instruction on how to vote.”

 Section 52 (3) then warns voters,

“If the Supervisor or presiding officer has reasonable suspicion that a voter is in breach of subsection (2), he or she may request the assistance of a police officer to search the voter, and it shall be lawful for a police officer to take such measures as necessary to conduct a search of the voter.”

 WHAT?

A decent law-abiding citizen of this country, exercising his or her right to make an informed choice in the election by taking a piece of paper into the polling booth to help him or her to vote,  can be searched, on suspicion, like a common criminal?

AND FURTHERMORE, if any such material is found on them, Section 52 (4) further warns,

 “Any person who contravenes this section commits an offence and shall be liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or to both.

 What sorts of serious crime does Fiji’s justice system hand out such horrendous punishment?

The contemptuous charade continues

But we should not be surprised any more by this Bainimarama/Khaiyum Regime’s antics.

For this is an unelected military dictatorship, which removed a lawfully elected government in 2006, and ruled us without our permission and without anyone voting for them, for eight whole years.

They have unilaterally imposed unlawful decree after decree on us, culminating in the 2013 Bainimarama/Khaiyum Constitution, which promises them and their collaborators, total immunity for any crime they may have committed from 2000 to elections in 2014.

But they threaten decent law-abiding voters that if they innocently take a piece of paper into the polling booth to help them vote for their preferred candidate for the first time in eight years, they may be fined $50,000 and jailed for 10 years.

It would be a joke, if it was not such a nightmare.

This Regime has ignored all recommendations from political parties and the general public for far more sensible, understandable, and workable proportional electoral systems (such as local constituencies with a small number of candidates, who voters  could easily identify with and choose from).

Instead, through the advice of a secret scheming cabal of shadowy collaborators, this Bainimarama Regime has thrust this electoral nightmare on our people through this Electoral Decree 2014.

All that the freedom loving people of Fiji and other political parties can do is grit their teeth and see where peaceful participation in this pathetic electoral charade takes them.

Addendum: some sick jokes

Joke 1:  what if voters simply write their candidate’s number on some hidden part of their body, which they can look at, inside the privacy of the polling booth? Will all voters be strip-searched by the police?

There are lots of other sick jokes in the 2014 Electoral Decree.

Joke 2 : from the Decree, section 115 states:

 Restrictions on campaigns

115.—(1) Following the announcement of the date of the election, it shall be unlawful for any person, entity or organisation (including any person employed or engaged by any such person, entity or organisation) that receives any funding or assistance from a foreign government, inter-governmental or non-governmental organisation or multilateral agency to engage in, participate in or conduct any campaign (including organising debates, public forum, meetings, interviews, panel discussions, or publishing any material) that is related to the election or any election issue or matter.

Not only can CFF, FWRM, WCC, and other NGOs forget these educational activities after the announcement of the date of elections, but so also can The University of the South Pacific, which is partly funded by “foreign governments” (no doubt to the relief of their Vice Chancellor and Chairman of Council).

Joke 3

Section 63 (2) (d) states that in the In the 48 hour period prior to polling day and on the polling day until the close of polling at all polling stations, it is strictly prohibited for any person to--

 ”distribute in any manner (including through telephone, internet, email, social media or other electronic means) any campaign material or communicate political messages, including calls to vote for or against a particular political party or candidate in the election.

Really? 
Does this Decree effectively gives  the Bainimarama Regime the draconian authority to monitor all our phone calls, emails, and Internet usage, and conduct electronic surveillance on citizens that infringes on their basic human right to privacy?

Joke 4            
Section 113  Prohibition on use of State resources to campaign

 (1) It shall be unlawful to use State authority, including law and tax enforcement authorities, to pressure or intimidate political opposition.

 (2) It shall be unlawful for any public officer to conduct campaign activities.

 But of course, there is some Decree which states that Bainimarama and his other unelected Ministers are not “public officers”, and they will be allowed to remain in office, handing out goodies all around the country (of  course, not buying any votes) and maligning any “old politician” they want (except those in his own gang).

Joke 5:            
Section 27 (2) the  nomination of an independent candidate is not valid unless it is accompanied by

(b) signatures of at least 1,000 registered voters as supporters; and

(c) ) contain the full names, residential addresses, occupation and voter numbers of the supporters.

So for poor Independent candidates, forget the principle of the “secrecy of the ballot box” and who are going to vote for you. The Regime and other political parties will know exactly who are your supporters, who they can target in whatever way they want.

Just as they can target the 5000 persons who sign up as “supporters” of political parties.

http://narseyonfiji.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/bainimarama-regime-presents-fijis-electoral-nightmare-professor-wadan-narsey-30-march-2014/

The National Federation Party- Our People’s Future
Speech delivered to the National Federation Party at its Annual General Meeting on 29 March, 2014 at the Nadi Sangam Primary School

By Professor Biman Prasad; New Leader of NFP

"Chief Guest, Gone Turaga na Roko Tui Bau, Ratu Joni Madrawiwi, Madam President of the Party, Ms Tupou Draunidalo, outgoing President Mr Raman Singh, Excellencies, members of the Diplomatic corps, invited guests, party stalwarts, members, branch officials, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

Madam President, I congratulate you on your appointment as President of the Party. More so, I salute your courage in accepting the position in these most difficult of times. Madam, you are also not only the second woman President of the Party in our fifty years but also the first i-taukei to become the Party President. My heart felt tribute and tremendous appreciation to the National Federation Party for its wisdom and farsightedness in taking this decision. Madam, you have my unflinching support, loyalty and best wishes in shouldering this great responsibility for taking this great party forward.

I join the whole party and thousands of citizens of our country in expressing our profound thanks to the outgoing President Mr. Raman Pratap Singh. Mr Raman Singh has ably led and steered our party in difficult times.  You have through service and commitment strengthened our party. You have displayed that unflinching spirit of service that has been a hallmark for all our leaders past. This includes your late father Mr Ram Jati Singh our member from my own home constituency in the 1970s. Thank you, vinaka vakalevu Mr Raman Singh.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I do not underestimate what lies ahead of us. With much humility, a clear understanding about the scale of responsibility and excitement, I have accepted the National Federation Party’s appointment as its Leader. The weight of history, I am aware is heavy. Expectations are large. I am accepting a post previously held by some of the finest political leaders in our country, Mr Jai Ram Reddy, Mr. Harish Sharma, the formidable late Mr A D Patel and  Late Mr. S.M Koya, people from whom I and so many others draw so much inspiration. 

Restoring our freedoms

On behalf of thousands of supporters of the NFP and Fiji citizens yearning for restoration of our democracy, I thank all those individuals in our recent leadership team who have steered our ship through stormy waters; Raman Singh, Attar Singh, Pramod Rae, Prem Singh, Bala Dass, James Raman, Parmod Chand, Kamal Iyer and all branch officials.  They never wavered from our commitment to democracy and respect for fundamental human rights of all of Fiji’s citizens. Many of our prominent leaders are not on the stage today because of an unjust and undemocratic decree that prohibits trade union leaders from holding political positions.

The NFP has, since its birth 50 years ago championed the universal freedoms and equality. We have championed this in our good days when we were well represented in parliament. We have championed these values when we were not represented in parliament. This is not fad for our party. It is not a fashion statement to get for media sound-bytes. This belief in fundamental rights and freedoms defines who we are.

Our country will make irreversible social and economic progress when our citizens are free. Their organizations including trade unions they belong to are not free, the media they depend on are not free. We have fought for these rights in 1950’s, 1960’s, after the coups of 1987, after the upheavals of 2000 and after the coup of 2006. We will continue fighting to restore our freedoms. Fighting for these freedoms is in our DNA.  We call upon government to rescind the political parties decree, media industry decree, state proceedings decree and ensure a level playing field which is essential for a free and fair election.

Our citizens need these answers. They need to know what differentiates and defines the parties. It is a choice between continued prohibitions on their rights and freedoms or openness and restoration of individual freedoms. 

Let me say clearly and unequivocally, that come September of this year, these absurd and so fundamentally unjust decrees will go.  We will make it a priority of the NFP to restore fully all political, labor and human rights of all Fijians.

Creating sound policies

As an academic, I am aware that it is easy to criticize government policies from outside. The business of governing is complicated. Difficult balances are needed when making policies. My work as an academic has always been firmly rooted on the lives of our citizens. I know that good policies are those that begin from people, that respond to their needs and that   are capable of being implemented by government. Bad policies are those that begin from the need of governments to remain in power, or are incapable of being implemented or derived from the arrogance of the powerful that only they know what is best for our people.

Growing up, I have watched the arrogance of governments in my rice farming Dreketi community in Vanua Levu. Successive government policies failed my family and its efforts to lift itself out of poverty through rice farming; not because governments were ill meaning, but they could not get something very simple right. Our people know what is best for them. They need the support of the Government – they do not need their government to be against their efforts to lift themselves out of their poverty.

Growing up as a young adult in uncertain post-coup times, when my national identity was questioned, my religious convictions challenged, I could in despair have also packed up and left. I did not.

My upbringing has taught me virtues of truth, righteousness. It also taught me that the way to these is often tortured. Politics to me is extension of these values – through slow and deliberate collective action seeking the path of truth and righteousness and on this journey solving problems in national life.

As an academic, I have closely observed that those in government can lose track of what the people need. They are driven by motivations of self-preservation rather than lasting good to lives of our people.  There is a dictum that captures this: ‘I know all, and what I don’t know does not exist’. I think many of you have also seen examples of this attitude in our country over the last several years.

We are at a defining point in our history. Without doubt, we need a break from the past. Fiji needs leaders who can energize and bring people together, who will bring new passion and fresh perspectives to begin to use politics for the long term good, rather than the short term goal of self- preservation.

We have had a turbulent history since 1987. Consistent political instability has harmed the social, political and economic fabric of our country. This political instability has been caused by the military’s intervention in the political development of Fiji through its support for the coups.

The 2006 coup continued with the tradition of military intervention in our political life. As a nation, we need a calm conversation about how we are going to address this issue. The military will need to introspect and be part of this national conversation. We welcome the new Commander of the RFMF, Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga’s firm assurance that the military will be apolitical, stay neutral during the coming election and respect the results of the General Election later this year.

In the last 8 years, many things have changed. Many of these changes have been haphazard; many policies are inconsistent and in fact contradict each other. But most of all these changes do not reflect inputs from us people who live in this country.

We are preparing for a General Election under a Constitution that has been imposed on our people.  It is very important to understand our history if we are to confront the challenges that lie ahead with determination

In the preparation for the elections, the last thing our people want is to be fed with propaganda, pie in the sky promises, vote buying and more short term populist policies. Policies and promises which will be hard to sustain and fulfill under current difficult economic conditions need to be weighed and pruned.

Confronting Fears

Ladies and Gentlemen, as a nation we have lived in fear over the last 7 years. Fear grips our national life. Fear of being heard by someone and reported to authorities, fear of being bullied by those in power, fear of losing jobs, fear of being victimized, fear of losing licenses, fear of being witch hunted by government agencies. Workers, farmers, taxi drivers, teachers, lawyers, doctors, civil servants, academics, journalists, business people, many NGOs have shied away from raising difficult issues because of the fear of being victimized for being critical of the government.

This induced culture of extreme fear has harmed our prosperity and development. It will be a long and difficult journey to re-establish an open, vibrant democracy that derives its core strength from the free expression of our citizens, debate and open discussion.

There is an unhealthy condescending attitude that prevails in our country. If you question government policies, you will be told by the PM and AG that you are an old politician and projected to be anti-national.

To paraphrase, the ‘power and freedom to question is the basis of human progress”. We have lost that power.

Today I ask the people of this country to ask questions to this government. Ask frank and difficult questions of us and all those who will seek your permission to represent you.  

To the Government, you may direct questions about your freedoms:   freedom to say things and be reported by the media, freedom to ask why you are paying so much for rice, milk, chicken, oil and kerosene, freedom to ask why you are paying such much in water bills, electricity bills. You need to ask why is it that you cannot get a doctor to see you in a hospital when you need him/her, freedom to ask why you are paying punishing fees and charges to set up and operate a small business?

We have crucially not had the freedom to ask why the Auditor General’s report has not been made public, freedom to ask why the Public Accounts Committee has been disbanded without releasing reports for the years of Bainimarama government.

To us, you ask what is it that we offer as an alternative? The present Government has tried to buy our citizens through doles and freebies. Our people don’t need pity, they need respect, and they need their freedoms to be restored. Rather than expensive freebies they need decent and secure jobs, they need secure pensions, they need reasonable prices for the food they buy. Most of all, they need fair play. Fair play means that the government makes credible and sound economic policies that encourages people and companies to, innovate, to initiate new ideas and invest. They need a level playing field, they need less intrusive government. From economic progress will come security and progress of our people.  

Accelerating growth

Our economic performance since 2007 has been dismal. On average the economy has grown by only over 1% in the past 8 years. The persistence of political instability, poor investor confidence, lack of investment in infrastructure, land lease problems, inconsistent government policies, restrictive decrees, high costs of doing business means confidence in our economy remains low.  We need to rupture this cycle of low confidence and low growth.

Businesses and employers want certainty in the business environment. Our skilled, professional and unskilled workers want predictability in their employment. They will give their best when they know that their jobs are secure and their wages are fair.

Government policy has been confused, designed to support certain industries and favor businesses selectively. Growth will not happen if Government selectively favors businesses based on their support to the government. Progress will not happen if concessions are granted to businesses based on the loyalty to Government. It is possible in and open and free environment, with a fair and credible business policy regime to position Fiji on a high growth path well in excess of 6 percent per annum. This is our ambition within two years of the party in government.

Freeing small businesses

But for a high growth trajectory, we have to free up our small businesses. The many decrees, fees, fines, charges, business licenses that have added undue burden to the silent majority of business are killing initiative and effort.

Those most affected are those trying to set up very small businesses such as roadside stalls, small operators, taxi owners, farmers, grog dealers, even small farmers. They face a barrage of harassment by LTA officials, FIRCA officials, town council, Water Authority, FEA, Commerce Commission, I-TLTB and Lands Department. They feel that the whole architecture of government is working against, rather than for them.

These small businesses feel that they are being punished by their government, rather than being rewarded for trying to lift themselves out of poverty. These small business operators have suffered in silence over the last 7 years. We hear your pain.

The NFP will remove all impediments in the way of our small businesses. In Government, we will provide a supportive environment for small businesses and will provide incentives to support people trying to make a living by operating small operations.

Reducing prices

Our poor economic performance has resulted in rising poverty, rising unemployment and frustrated workers with low wages. The biggest killer for our people has been rising prices of food and utilities.

When it took over power, this government promised to reduce VAT from 12.5% to 10%. Instead it raised it to 15%. It devalued the dollar by 20%. Prices have increased by 45.3% since 2006. Food prices went up by 60%, heating and lighting prices also by 60% and transport by 51%.These are the Government’s own figures.

In Government the NFP will reduce VAT from 15% to 10% immediately providing immediate relief on the growing costs of essential food items. We will review all import duties on important food items to reduce price further.

Forcefully tackling poverty

Poverty is blight on our country; a blight on our humanity. At independence, only 7 percent of our families were poor. It has grown fivefold. At 35%, more than 1 in every 3 child, women and man in this country now lives in poverty. This is unacceptable. Over the same period, rest of the world has made remarkable progress in reducing poverty, Fiji has been on reverse. This government has imposed a national minimum wage of only $2 per hour in the country or roughly equivalent to $88 per week income. The daily struggle that a third of our families who live on these low incomes are intense. They juggle daily choices between paying for medicine for their children or rent, paying for bus fare to go to work or for buying bread and vegetables.

Others, who are being paid above the minimum wage, have also suffered large decrease in their purchasing power. These workers were let down by certain trade union leaders from the Fiji Trade Union Congress who blatantly joined the coup regime and have now set up a break away party There are others who joined the coup and helped muscle the poor in this country will also need to answer to the people of this country. Additionally, government through some of its deliberate policies has made the rich richer and poor more poorer. We will also seek answers to the many questions about our FNPF. Since 1987 the FNPF has been mismanaged.

The NFP will review the management structure of FNPF, review the representation on the board so that workers representatives have a majority decision making power. The NFP will review the contractual violations to the pension rates for our pensioners.

The NFP will abolish all decrees including the Essential National Industries (ENI) restricting the rights of workers in this country and allow unions to operate in the spirit of dialogue and consultation with the employers. We will re-establish the tripartite forum where employers, government and the unions will have the platform to deal with issues affecting the workers of this country in a cooperative, consultative manner. We will revise the minimum wages based on different sectors and we will make the wages council more efficient and effective.

Creating decent jobs

Nowhere is the evidence of failure of government seen more clearly than through unemployment. Thousands of graduates, school leavers, and skilled people cannot find jobs. This is because there has been no growth in manufacturing and agriculture sector. The National Employment Centre tells us that out of 26,000 that registered as jobseekers between 2010 and 2012, only 4,000 found jobs. More recently the figure registered at the NEC has risen to 30,000 and of these 1,000 are University graduates.

It breaks the heart of parents, who borrow to support higher education of their children, when they see them out of work on completion of their studies. It breaks the heart of our youth who work relentlessly to complete their higher education and then rather than have a decent job, find themselves jobless.  This pain is played out in so many of our families every day.

In government, the NFP will work with employers and investors to create decent employment opportunities through a range of job creating incentives. We will in particular pay attention to supporting both the manufacturing and agricultural sector as both have significant potential for employment creation. We will work with Australia and New Zealand to join the Pacific labor scheme.

Regenerating sugar industry and the islands and rural agricultural sector

One of the key industries seriously affected after the military coup of 2006 was the sugar industry. The industry lost about 200 million dollars in adjustment funds from the European Union. There is now real threat that lack of progress in the negotiations with the EPA threatens the access of our sugar to the European Union. In fact the government has misled the farmers by suggesting that our market access is granted until 2023. This is far from the truth. The EU has clarified that that we only have until 2014 to negotiate our way in the EPA.

The NFP as it has always done will help negotiate better deals with the EU and other markets. In Government the NFP will substantially invest in the industry to rebuild confidence of farmers, introduce private sector innovations and rebuild trust in our external markets. We will reinstate a bi-partisan approach to the management of the sugar industry. We will re-establish an elected Sugar Cane Grower Council to create cohesion and cooperation amongst the sugarcane farmers in the country.

Ladies and Gentlemen, years of neglect, and concentration of administrative authority in Suva has meant that the reach of Government to our rural villages and islands has worsened. The neglect of some islands and rural agricultural communities is criminal.

Agricultural extension services in near state of collapse, roads in such disrepair that even private buses are pulling back their services in many areas. How did we come to this? We have had nearly 20 years of continuous failure of Government. The attention of an increasingly politicized senior civil service was on serving political masters, rather than ensuring services to rural and island communities. We will begin the task of redressing this comprehensive failure of government. This will not be easy.

In government, we will increase agricultural extension services and work with private sector providers to extend telecommunications connectivity to all island communities as a high priority. At the back of this revolution in networking our country, we will weave onto that IT tapestry, the delivery of front line government services through e-services. Internationally, we will work with our traditional development partners and those in Asia, including China, India and others to learn, adapt and apply low technology solutions to enhancing income opportunities. We will not fail island and rural communities.

This government’s policy on agricultural development in the past 7 years have been confused. The incentive structure has been confused with promoting import substitution and export promotion. We will define a very clear agricultural policy linked to our export markets so that our farmers can increase production and increase income through export-led agricultural development.

Land Availability and Land use policy

Land and the issue of agricultural leases has always been contentious and a source of bitter and acrimonious debates. The NFP’s has in the past advocated the need for a lasting solution to the issue of expiring land leases. The NFP will promote a Master Lease concept where Government leases all available agricultural land from landowners and then re-leases it to tenant farmers for a minimum tenure of 99 years. We will push for agricultural and residential tenants leasing Crown C Land be provided the option to buy the land at a price following valuation of the Un-improved Capital Value of the Land.

Fixing health care

Our healthcare systems are in decay. The health authorities are struggling in their ability to deal with the recent outbreak of Dengue. We might have become the dengue capital of the world! The deteriorating level of services in our hospitals is shocking. Lack of doctors, nurses, medicine and neglect of patients is a familiar story for a lot of people. In the last 7 years policy makers and planners of health care delivery in Fiji have not been able to put in place a durable and need based health care system. Today deaths from Non-Communicable diseases, has risen to over 80%. People are dying of heart diseases, blood pressure, and diabetes because of lack of basic medical care at an early stage to prevent these diseases. How can people have a good diet when they can rarely afford a balanced meal on the meagre wages they can ill afford?

The NFP will review the salaries of doctors, nurses and health workers and implement a new salary structure within six months of being in government. In Government we will implement a health sector modernization program involving private-public sector solutions to improve medical facilities and equipment, to use new technologies including telemedicine to extend services to island communities, and reduce costs of private and public sector drugs through bulk -purchasing.

Education matters for democracy

We have no quarrels with government’s stated priority for education for all the people in this country. In fact we commend them for some policies and NFP will maintain the increase in school grants. However, we also feel that in the rush to create populist reforms they have messed up the whole education system. Starting from primary and right through secondary and tertiary education, government policies have been confused, haphazard and ad hoc. Removal of exams, new assessment methods, new curriculum have all been implemented without much thought on its impact on quality.

There is an urgent need to review the current curriculum to find out where we stand in terms of quality of the teaching and learning process. We appreciate and understand government’s attempt to provide scholarship and loan for all students who qualify for higher education. We will, however, review the structure of TELS and its secretariat while maintaining the goal of providing scholarship and loans to students.

The NFP will keep the toppers scheme for the 600 highest achievers in form seven. However, those who do not make the cut in the 600, we will introduce a means tested scholarship. This will ensure that students from very poor families will get full scholarship and will not be forced to take a loan. We will also convert all loans in 2014 to means tested scholarships for those who meet the criteria. The NFP will review the teachers’ salaries to ensure that we have a salary level commensurate with the work that teachers, specialists and school heads undertake.

Delivering services

When the coup happened in 2006 we were promised fair and equal treatment in many things including the civil service appointments. The regime promised that military officers will not be appointed. The reality today is quite different. The Public Service Commission Chairman and the Permanent Secretary of PSC appear to have shut their eyes and have paddled the appointments of persons based on who they are and not on merit. We know that there are many hard working civil servants and we commend them for their hard work and understanding.  I am talking about those that have moved up the ladder so quickly and so fast under this government fuelling a culture of mediocrity. Board appointments, CEOs of government owned companies are all good examples of appointments made on the basis of considerations other than merit.

The current coup regime unilaterally reduced the public service retirement age. This policy is a no brainer. It should have never been implemented.

NFP in government will restore the retirement age to 60. In addition, we will extend this further to 65 on annual contracts on the basis of needs.  NFP will focus civil service on delivering services to citizens transparently, in a time bound manner and have clear procedures for resolving citizen’s grievances in a timely manner.

Of our international partners

Thank you for remaining engaged with Fiji in these rough times. We value greatly your support. In going forward, we look to deepening our dialogue with all of Fiji’s development partners. Fiji’s development needs are many. From, education to health, to environmental degradation, to marine resource preservation, to boosting micro-finance access in semi-urban and rural areas, to rural infrastructure rehabilitation, we will work with development partners to seek their financing and technical support across priority areas. We want to focus their support to creating jobs and boosting incomes within these areas especially in rural and semi urban areas. 

Making the right choices

Ladies and Gentlemen, I will lead a new NFP in this election. I urge you, especially the young and the youth to listen to us. Listen to what we have to offer? Ask us any questions you may have. Check out our vision for this country. We know that these are difficult but not hopeless times. With the right choices, our future is bright. We need leaders who can move beyond the hallow of egoism and embrace ideas from others, embrace dissent, embrace humility, understand the needs and aspirations of the people.

The new NFP is a party which will stick to its enduring values of freedom for our people, democracy and good governance, humility and understanding of the unique nature of our society. It believes in an open and accountable government.  

We understand and embrace changes in the expectations of our young people; we understand their aspirations of living in a free, peaceful and progressive country.

Our vision for Fiji is one where people have the freedom to earn a decent living, freedom to question the government, freedom from fear and oppression. It is a Fiji where we will promote the delivery of services to all without fear and favor.

A Fiji where businesses are allowed to flourish, where economic growth is sustainable, Fiji where employment is plentiful, Fiji where people will want to live and make their homes and not think about migrating at any cost.

Let me say this. The days when young, smart, educated and skilled persons chose to stay out of politics are over. I believe more and more young people and especially women have become conscious of the fact they have lost freedom, they have lost prosperity and they need to do something. More and more young people and women are convinced that they cannot remain ‘apolitical. There is too much at stake. I know that our young and women want freedom, they want respect, they don’t want to be told all the time what is good for them, they don’t want to be told what they should study and why, and they want to be part of the future for this country. The new NFP provides that opportunity. It is a party where young and women activists can develop their leadership skills.

NFP will encourage women candidates in this election and our manifesto will contain policies towards gender equality and empowerment of women.  

In the next few months, both the President and I, together with key leaders of the NFP will travel throughout the country. We will present and discuss our policies. We will listen to you as we travel and review our programs and proposals based on your contributions .We will take programs and policies that flow from these into government.  

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are not in an environment which promotes free and fair election. This cannot be the case so long as restrictions on media remain and the bias of public sector media organizations is not reduced.

Mr. Bainimarama, if you want our citizens to have the freedom to choose, please free our media. Remove the punishing decrees, and ask the media to give equal coverage to all parties.  

To the journalists in this country, let me say this. We understand predicament. But, you have a large and historic role to play in restoring our democracy. I urge you to do your bit in ensuring that Fiji citizens can watch, read and listen to messages of all political parties and not only that of the Government. In the absence of democracy the media’s role as an effective watchdog becomes even more important and a free and unbiased media is the last bastion of hope for all our citizens.

In government, NFP will   remove all restrictions to media freedom

In taking this responsibility, I have consulted widely across the country. Based on hundreds of interactions, I have a clear message on their behalf for Mr. Bainimarama. Our people are not stupid. They will think carefully before they vote. They are asking serious questions. They do not buy your propaganda. I have that infinite trust in the goodness of our people. Come September, they will do the right thing.

Mr. Bainimarama, if you indeed are ready to stand on your record, join me in a public debate on your record.

This country is at a ‘critical juncture’ ladies and gentlemen. I will lead a very talented and committed team in this difficult election. We need your support.

Ladies and gentleman, Ms Tupou Draunidalo and I offer you an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the future of this country.

We are a party of high principles. We hold the use of force in politics as fundamentally abhorrent. Our Party and its leaders have never supported or benefitted from a coup.  Our leaders have not enriched themselves in the name of the poor. 

The new NFP will re-claim its rightful place in Fiji’s politics. We will return to parliament with a substantial number of seats. We will be in government.  We will transform the way we are governed.

We will not be dictatorial, we will not be vindictive, we will not harass and we will not go out on a witch hunt. We will promote a politics of consensus not partisanship. We will bring in a politics of inclusiveness and not divisiveness.

What we desperately need is a clean and efficient government, that creates opportunities for the greatest number instead of favoring a select few; that is fair and consistent, not vengeful and whimsical; that instils hope instead of fear; that encourages initiative and entrepreneurship instead of killing it. We will engage with young, women, persons with disability. We will not condemn old politicians and leaders and Chiefs. We seek out their wisdom and advice.

Ladies and Gentlemen, before I conclude I seek your permission to say a few words in Hindi.

In rebuilding our country, we ask you to join NFP, support it with your vote, and support it with resources and your time.  

Let me make this very clear. The NFP will contest the election on its own. We are NOT in coalition with any party. 

We are here to secure your future. NFP is our people’s future. It provides a new national beginning. I urge you all to join us in this journey to rebuild our democracy, our economy and our society.

God bless NFP and God bless Fiji. "

Professor Prasad hails from Dreketi in Vanua Levu, a rice farming area. He completed his primary education at the Muanidevo Indian School and secondary education at Dreketi Junior Secondary School and at Labasa College. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of the South Pacific in 1984, Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of the South Pacific in 1985. During his student days Professor Prasad was the President of the Indian Students Association. He led many presentations and protests on behalf of the students including coordinating a hunger strike against the government in 1984. 

After the 1987 coup in Fiji, Professor Prasad was elected the founder President of the Fiji Youth and Students League. This organization was at the forefront in calling for the return to democratic government in Fiji. Professor Prasad completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of the South Pacific in 1988, Master of Commerce from the University of New South Wales, Australia in 1991 and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland, Australia in 1997. Professor Prasad rose through the academic ranks of Lecturer to the highest level of Professor at a very young age.

Until his resignation recently, Professor Prasad led the largest faculty within the University of the South Pacific. Professor Prasad is an international scholar and has contributed significantly to the debate on social and economic issues in the region. From 2003 to 2007 Professor Prasad was Head of School of Economics. Previously he worked in the area of Distance and Flexible Learning. Professor Prasad has an accomplished academic reputation with four books and many articles published on economic development, trade and environment issues. He has published several journal articles and has done consultancy work for international organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, Food and Agricultural Organisation, The World Trade Organisation, AusAID, etc and governments in the Pacific region.

He is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Fijian Studies and Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Pacific Studies. Professor Prasad has travelled extensively around the world and has presented papers at many international conferences over the last several years. He has been a visiting Professor at the Kagoshima University in Japan and at the Otago University in New Zealand. Professor Prasad has taught in the Regional Trade Policy Course for the Asia-Pacific region at the Universities of Hong Kong and National University of Singapore. In addition, he is a regular media commentator and has given numerous interviews to local and international media. In addition, during his student days, Professor Prasad held numerous leadership positions.

He was President of the USP staff Association for seven years from 1999-2006. Professor Prasad also fought the 1999 General Election. He was also elected as the leader of the National Federation Party in 2001. He is a steering Committee member of the Asia Pacific Forum on Environment and Development, Secretary of the Asia Pacific Business in Society (APABIS), Steering Committee member of the AusAID report on the Pacific for 2009 and 2010. He was recently elected as the Chair of the Oceania Development Network, a regional network supported by the Global Development Network. Professor Prasad received  the prestigious Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) fellowship. He spent 2 months at the Jawaharlal Nehru University from February to March, 2011. He holds Adjunct Professorial positions at the University of James Cook and Griffith University in Australia and at the Punjabi University in Patiala, India. He was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s Prize for Research Leadership at the University of the South Pacific in 2011.

TUPOU DRAUNIDALO'S Inaugural Speech as President of the National Federation Party, 29 March 2014.
Salutation

"The immediate past President Mr. Raman Singh, our chief guest na Gone Turaga na Roko Tui Bau and ALL of our invited guests, members, supporters and officials of the National Federation Party.

I am honoured to give this inaugural speech as president of the party. Honoured to follow in the steps of past party members who carried the leadership batons - Messrs A D Patel, S M Koya, Irene Jai Narayan, Balwant Singh Rakka, Dorsami Naidu, Attar Singh and Raman Singh. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you all for having confidence in my suitability for this role, I hope to live up to the great expectations of the party.
Gratitude
Before I go any further, I want to take this opportunity to thank and commend my predecessor and his leadership team for holding this fort together in very trying circumstances.
In spite of the various decrees aimed at diminishing our freedom of speech and association – your leadership has brought this party back to re-registration and on even keel – fighting fit – ready for the upcoming elections. Thank you very much Mr. Raman Singh and your leadership team in the branches and at headquarters. You all know who you are and i can see that you are all here.
Introduction
In this inaugural speech i wish to share with you my reasons for being a member of this great political party.

Opposition to all military coups
Ladies and gentlemen, we have all lived under and experienced life under a military government, on and off since 1987. We all know that these unelected and dictatorial governments – answerable to no one but their armouries – restrict our basic freedoms - of speech, association and religion; they discourage local and foreign investment; and they weaken and destroy important institutions of state.
The combination of those factors is the reason why Fiji is restrained from reaching its social and economic potential. The coup culture holds us back from progress and development. It keeps us in the third world in spite of all of our resources. And it holds us back from better schools and hospitals. It holds us back from more employment creation and better wages. It holds us back from leaving a stable, secure and prosperous Fiji to our future generations.
Look into the eyes of any child in Fiji today and ask yourself – am I doing enough to ensure that this child will grow up in a Fiji that is stable, secure and prosperous? A Fiji that has no more coups to deter investment? A Fiji that devotes its national budget to better schools, hospitals and other public services and utilities over military spending?
I am proud to say ladies and gentlemen that if the National Federation Party were to ask itself those questions – it can hold its head up high and say that it has done very much to ensuring a stable, secure and prosperous Fiji by consistently opposing all military coups in this country.

Human rights
The National Federation is a party of respect for human rights and equality for all citizens of Fiji. The party was in fact born out of the struggle for dignity and justice of all the ordinary people of Fiji. This is reflected in the party constitution since inception.
The party’s commitment to individual rights and equality can be seen in its submissions to various forums and its work in ensuring that these rights are enshrined in both the 1970 and 1997 Constitutions of Fiji.

Indigenous rights (Group rights)
Ladies and Gentlemen, the indigenous people of this land – we own our natural resources communally and we do very many things communally.
I am proud to say that this party has a very good record of appreciating this and working to ensure that these group rights are protected and that any reforms would be matters for self determination by we, the indigenous community.
This philosophy is clearly set out in the 1997 Constitution which the National Federation Party worked hard to sheppard through the Great Council of Chiefs and Parliament. Chapter 13, sections 185 and 186 of the 1997 Constitution enshrine and entrench indigenous rights.
Just as importantly, the entrenchment provisions of section 185 ensures self determination by the indigenous community in that all legislation dealing with our natural resources and other communal matters can only be amended with the ultimate consent of our elected representatives in the House of Representatives and Senate and traditional chiefs through the GCC nominees in the Senate.
As an indigenous person, I commend the NFP and its leaders and parliamentarians for those provisions in the 1997 Constitution.
But even before that process and before the coups of 1987, this party had broad representation in parliament of members of both houses of Parliament from the indigenous community. They include Messrs, Apisai Tora, Isikeli Nadalo, Atunaisa Maitoga, Ratu Glaniville Lalabalavu, Ratu Mosese Tuisawau, Ro Asela Logavatu, Timoci Naco, Sakeo Tuiwainikai, Ratu Jullian Toganivalu, Koresi Matatolu, Ratu Osea Gavidi, Ratu Napolioni Dawai II, Ratu Soso Katonivere, Filimone Nalatu and Temo Sukanaivalu. Those names ladies and gentlemen assure appropriate respect for and primacy of indigenous rights – one that would be jealously guarded and defended when required.

Promotion of youth and women
As both, a woman and a youngish one – I have a lot to commend the NFP. The party has had many women members and group leaders. And the party has always sought more members and participation from these two groups.
We are hopeful of attracting very many from this sector to contest the upcoming elections under the NFP banner.
As I said at another party meeting, this is the party that had Irene Jai Narayan as party president in the 70s then Adi Kuini Vuikaba as a coalition leader in 1990-1 – that is some time before women’s rights took a more central place in the discourse of this conservative and male-friendly country.
But as a party, we cannot rest on those laurels and the appointment of another woman party president – we can and we should do more. We led the way back in the 70s and we should lead the way again now to push for more independent women of substance in our ranks as candidates, office bearers and leaders.
Further, we should actively court and engage the young who need to get better connected to the political history of Fiji so as to prepare themselves better for the rebuilding task that lies ahead.
It is the youth who will take all of our hopes and dreams into the future and so we must involve them now in very substantive ways. As my own mother did with me – baptism by fire never did harm anyone.

Bridge between the educated and the community
Another attraction to this party has been how it is a bridge between the professional sector and the wider community.
One or two persons may make snide remarks about this party being a party of ‘elites’ due to the membership and support of very many professionals – but i truly cannot understand why the membership of professionals would be a bad thing.
Between you and me – i would rather an Economics Professor like Biman Prasad telling us about the national economy and related policies than a soldier. If we went to the hospital, i’m sure we would all prefer to consult the doctor and not a bone crusher.
Further, many high achieving professionals who have led this party had very humble beginnings and so their own personal stories of beating the odds to rise to national leadership should give our citizens hope for a better future.
I have it on very good authority that our former leader, Mr. Siddiq Moidin Koya (the son of a cane farmer) left school at class 6 at Ba Mission School. He never enrolled at a secondary school but he worked hard as a law clerk and cut cane himself to save enough funds to see him through law studies overseas and the rest as they say is history.
If that story does not motivate you, nothing will.

Maturity
I wish to round up my inaugural speech by saying that the maturity of this party and its leaders, members and supporters was very attractive to me.
At fifty, the NFP shows its class – a fine history of service through dialogue and partnership with other political parties (ALTO, ALTA, 1970 Constitution, FNPF, Housing Authority, 1997 Constitution) and selflessness (both the party and its members). I like that style very much. Dialogue and understanding are sure ways to win allies and in a polarised state like ours – those qualities are rare jewels.

Conclusion
And so in conclusion, I say thank you once again for your confidence and endorsement and, i take this opportunity to ask each and every one of you party members and supporters to take these great messages (including your own personal experiences) about our party out to the electorate.
Let’s tell Fiji more about who and what we are and why Fiji needs very many NFP parliamentarians!
Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen."
Tupou Draunidalo

2014 General Elections to take place on 17th of September

This has been announced by the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during a press conference this afternoon.
Sayed-Khaiyum also announced that Mohammad Saneem will be the Supervisor of Elections. 

He said they received 13 applications for this position, where three applications were from Fijians, 10 from foreigners while one application was withdrawn.

Sayed-Khaiyum says however none of the 13 applications met the criteria set out. 


He said upon recommendation from New Zealand and Australia Mohammad Saneem was announced the Supervisor of Elections. Sayed-Khaiyum said Saneem will be resigning from the judiciary this afternoon and will start working as the Supervisor of Elections from Monday. Meanwhile Michael Clancy has been appointed as the Deputy Supervisor of Elections, Robin Boyd as the Director of Operations while Joshua Tuwere was announced the Director of Communications. Source: Fijivillage News.

"I have no experience in conducting elections and my Deputy Michael Clancy is an Australian 'Electoral Consultant' who has been hanging around Fiji since 2008. However, he is slightly qualified than me but my master Aiyaz Khaiyum, who had been telling Australia and New Zealand to mind their own business, now says that I was appointed upon recommendation from New Zealand and Australia" - Mohammed Saneem,  Supervisor of Elections