Service, duty, compassion matters in leadership: PM
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday told 35 participants of the ‘Vuli Ni Sauvaki ni Vanua’ or the Traditional Leadership Curriculum Training from the province of Serua, the vanua o Korolevu the vital characteristerics of a good leader. He outlined them as characteristics as service, duty and compassion while opening the training at the Centre for
Appropriate Technology and Development (CATD) in Nadave, Tailevu. He said: “Real leadership is guided always by the desire to serve your people and do your duty – even if your duty is unpopular or personally unpleasant for you.” Pictured (front from left): Chairperson of the
Native Lands and Fisheries Commission Ratu Sireli Vananalagi Vesikula, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Talatala Qase, Wasewase o Bau Reverend Saimoni Namosimalau and Assistant Minister of iTaukei Affairs Selai Adimaitoga.
Service, duty and compassion are characteristics that commands strong leadership and this is all that matters says, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. Mr Bainimarama while opening the ‘Vuli Ni Sauvaki ni Vanua’ or the Traditional Leadership Curriculum Training at the Centre for Appropriate Technology and Development (CATD) in Nadave, Tailevu, yesterday. He said these characters would help them gain the respect they needed to lead. Mr Bainimarama said a real leader was someone who set a good example, inspired people to be and do their best by being strong enough to show compassion.
“Real leadership are guided always by the desire to serve your people and do your duty – even if your duty is unpopular or personally unpleasant for you,” Mr Bainimarama said.
He said a good quality in being a leader is the ability to resolve disputes in a civilised manner.
“They will need to see that you focus your attention and energy on the good of the people and not on competition with others,” he said. “They need to see that you put the interests of the vanua above your own and that you never use your position of leadership to enrich yourselves.
“They will need to believe that you will communicate with them fully so that they are informed about the issues that will affect their lives particularly that you will consult them on those important issues and not impose a dictatorial will and deserve your full commitment to helping them access the incredible opportunities for development made available by my government,” he added.
The trainees will be part of the 14-week training held by the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs.
Participant Semi Tavailagi, 37, defined leadership similarly highlighted by the Prime Minister as: “A leader is someone who has a servant-leadership character always putting the need of the people before his own.”
In 2018, 20 Fijians from the province Tailevu and Rewa graduated from the Traditional Leadership Curriculum Training, 39 from the province of Ba and in 2019, 33 from the province of Nadroga and Navosa. Mr Waibuta said a total of 92 Fijians have graduated from this programme.