Political opinions – HOPE, Unity Fiji, SODELPA

■ Tupou Draunidalo is president of HOPE. She was a former Opposition Member of Parliament for the National Federation Party in the current Parliament. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of Tupou Draunidalo and not of the Fiji Sun.

Our party name represents our core values, the heart of our party and its policies. Those core values are humanity, opportunity, prosperity, equality – HOPE.

Our overarching vision is to make Fiji a liberal democratic country like Australia and New Zealand. Some will ask why? We say, why not? Thousands of Fijians have migrated to Australia and New Zealand over the years in search of a better life for themselves and their families and relatives back at home through remittances. They go to those two liberal democracies to find much more humanity, opportunity, prosperity and equality – HOPE. We in our party want to bring that HOPE to Fiji.

What do we refer to when we discuss that humanity, opportunity, prosperity, equality in Australia and New Zealand?

We are referring to their higher quality and quantity private investments, fair and just working conditions, retirement benefits, generous maternity and paternity paid leave, greater and less costly access to quality university education, paid domestic violence leave, generous living wages, humane living and housing conditions, low cost of basic foods and lower general cost of living, first class hospitals, first class schools, first class roads, unemployment benefits, freedom from fear, free and independent civil service, free and independent government bodies, free and independent media, free and independent parliaments and free and independent courts.

We believe that our core values and policy details, once implemented will get Fiji to that mark of being a liberal democracy like Australia and New Zealand. In this opening statement via the Fiji Sun we would also like to take the time to express our gratitude once again to the thousands of Fijians who readily signed up for the establishment of our party. Now that the party has been registered and apart from the personal calls and emails that have gone out - this is a personal note that I posted on Facebook to say thank you to the professional, united in purpose and tight team that got us to this point. The volunteers and officials (mostly 20, 30, 40 year olds) – vinaka vakalevu! About 18 months ago, I met with many Fijians and travelled to parts of the country that I had not been to and talk about the benefits of the rule of law, political stability and good governance.

Then the signature collection teams went out in short, sharp phases. And in a matter of weeks, they collected about 8000 signatures. To the thousands who willingly signed up, our eternal gratitude. We vetted the signatures internally before choosing the time to send close to 7000 signatures to the Fijian Elections Office. Thank you all very much again. To my friends and family for tolerating me during the course of that and of course, my relatives in Moala, Navosa and Beqa. The old and parents of friends, colleagues for their encouragement and wise counsel. I should mention too Adi Sivia Qoro, President of the Unity Fiji party and their assistance with our internal verification process (voter rolls).

The actual verification undertaken by one niece doing foundation studies, two relatives from Korolevu and two toppers – the former Dux from Tilak High School in Lautoka and Vunimono High School in Nausori. Vinaka!

To the former soldier and his team in Tailevu, Naitasiri, Rewa, Ba, Macuata, Bua, Cakaudrove. Much, much appreciated. We all could have taken the much easier road, but for our steadfast hope in much better. I say too that it was a pleasure to deal with the professionalism at the Fijian Elections Office. Before this summary ends, I want to say a little about who we are. This may be the first political party in the country to have so many women and lawyers as part of the leadership team. The vice president, who hails from Rewa, and treasurer who is a naturalised Fijian (from the United States) are also senior women lawyers. The general secretary hails from Kaba, Tailevu, and used to work on the PAFCO factory floor. She is now more involved with the activities of women’s groups from Tailevu. Our registered officer is a young man from Tailevu who runs his own law firm in Lautoka. Together with the thousands who signed up to establish the party we are the people behind HOPE and our desire is to make Fiji a liberal democracy like Australia and New Zealand.

Now on to the big task of doing more of our bit to ensure progress in Fiji. Onwards and upwards. We live in hope, humanity opportunity prosperity and equality to make our vision and core values a reality for Fiji through your votes.

Now that the party has been registered and apart from the personal calls and emails that have gone out - this is a personal note that I posted on Facebook to say thank you to the professional, united in purpose and tight team that got us to this point. The voluntEErs AnD oFfiCIAls (mostly 20, 30, 40 year olds) - vinaka vakalevu Tupou Draunidalo President, HOPE