Why HOPE Stands Good Chance at Poll: Draunidalo
HOPE party leader and president, Tupou Draunidalo, believes the party stands a good chance of winning the upcoming general election.
Speaking to Fiji Sun, Ms Draunidalo said: “I believe I am a relatively wellknown political leader. I was an elected Member of the current Parliament with votes surpassing some Cabinet ministers and other Opposition members,” Ms Draunidalo said.
“The race will essentially be between the Prime Minister Voreqa Bainimarama, the leader of the National Federation Party Biman Prasad and myself as Leader of HOPE,” she said. Ms Draunidalo believes she made her mark too as an effective parliamentary performer of the current Parliament.
“I have also been a leader in the legal fraternity (vice president and council member of the Fiji Law Society) before politics with about 20 years of hard work, sacrifice and service to advocacy for the rule of law and political stability in Fiji.
“The leader of SODELPA Sitiveni Rabuka was not a member of the current Parliament.
“The leader of Unity Fiji Savenaca Narube is also from outside of the current Parliament, but he is well qualified in economics and without political baggage although he has served previous administrations at very high places.” However, she said, the people would decide and no party owned any voter. “The people can vote again for the same candidates they voted for in 2014 or they can vote for a different candidate/party,” Ms Draunidalo said. “Please keep in mind that we now have a presidential type system of voting. All votes go to the party leader first, so the race is really one between the leaders of the parties.”
The party is looking at 50 candidates and it will appoint an Attorney-General from the Bar. There would be no election or politics for her or him. When questioned on why HOPE was not part of the Political Party Leader Forum last week at the Wesley Butt Street Church Hall, she said the party made a clear choice not to join the other parties going into the election.
“The politics of the past is not attractive to us, to say the least,” Ms Draunidalo said.
“Also, our Constitution states that our rank and file is not to have any citizen with constitutional immunities unless they volunteer to go through a process of national truth and justice commission.
“We are relatively young, qualified, experienced, optimistic and look forward to the upcoming elections and the honour and privilege from voters to serve all Fijians with distinction in the areas we have set out - the economy, health and education and constitutional reform for more freedom and democracy.”
Below are four of the HOPE Party’s policies as revealed by its leader:
a. Economy - $10 minimum wage, sector by sector, tax benefits to employers to offset costs, productivity pledges from the unions, inflation control by the government; Cost of Living; Housing; Environment – and most importantly, how to pay for it; b. Health – Government investment in first-class hospitals and clinics which includes modern equipment and well looked after nurses and other professionals; c. Education – Government investment in first-class schools which includes the modernisation of the curriculum with help from Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the European Union through an Education Commission; Building upgrades including the boarding schools, equipment and the remuneration and welfare of teachers. Team HOPE values education very highly hence the ideals expressed to help young Fijians get the best start in life so that they can contribute to Fiji and beyond; and
d. Constitutional Reform - more freedom and more democracy.