Fiji Sun

Rootstrata Leader Freddie Fesaitu Pledges Support for FijiFirst

‘We as a nation cannot be hypocritic­al and criticise the assistance which benefited our children and larger population.’

- SHRATIKA NAIDU LABASA

Internatio­nal Taukei Movement president, Freddie Fesaitu has pledged to work together with the FijiFirst Party.

Lately he had been following the FijiFirst campaign at Qauia in Lami and was in Labasa to witness the FijiFirst leader and General

Secretary promote the good works FijiFirst has done for northerner­s. The 60-year-old better known in the music fraternity as leader of the popular reggae band, Rootstrata has also been involved in the political landscape through music. The Raiwai-born musician of Rotuman heritage along with his band mates will be performing in a music concert in Labasa next week. In politics he has been at the helm of the Taukei Movement since 1987. At the height of the Sitiveni Rabuka-led coup in 1987, Fesaitu along with his band boys were instrument­al in threatenin­g a well known lawyer and now vocal National Federation Party (NFP) supporter to be placed in a burning lovo outside

Government Buildings in Suva. Mr Fesaitu and his band members were then fortunate to be granted immunity.

However, those days of being a die hard nationalis­t are over. “Unfortunat­ely these days many self professing politician­s who talk about indigenous rights only want to fill their pockets,” Mr Fesaitu said

“We as a nation need to accept the facts, put aside our political difference­s and acknowledg­e what the FijiFirst Government has done for the people over the past 16 years. “I have been a strong critic of FijiFirst until I realised how thousands of indigenous Fijians became recipients of the present Government’s assistance.”

He said Mr Bainimaram­a, while being the Prime Minister has shown love and care to everyone regardless of their race, culture and ethnicity.

“We as a nation cannot be hypocritic­al and criticise the assistance which benefited our children and larger population,” he said.

He said even those who were complainin­g about this Government’s services were also the recipients. “I pledge my allegiance to this present Government and will work with Mr Bainimaram­a.

“I have done it before and I can do it again and hence urging everyone to exercise their right to vote wisely.”

 ?? ?? Internatio­nal Taukei Movement president Freddie Fesaitu.
Internatio­nal Taukei Movement president Freddie Fesaitu.

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