Persecuting Fiji’s Prime Ministers Edward Herman, Victoria, Australia

I am deeply saddened al the enduring level of malice, vitriol, and general dysfunction of the “Fiji, the land, and the people” that Margaret Knox once described in our primary school textbook.

As a kid, I believed in the “Hope and Glory” as sung loudly and proudly in the national anthem.

Then something changed Fiji’s full potential!

Since independence, our leaders have been subject to humiliating exits. For years of service, sacrifice, and heavy public scrutiny, they got a terrible thank you from the country, for doing what they believed was their vision during their tenure.

Ratu Mara, the father of modern Fiji, was exiled to Lakeba, Bavadra was couped, Rabuka completed his terms without issue, Mahendra Chaudhry was couped, Qarase was exiled and then sent to jail, and now Bainimarama is being hounded with everything thrown at him, including the kitchen sink. I love it in my adopted country when I see all our current and former Prime Ministers united at official functions for significant events, where there is solidarity, and “We are one and free”.

The United States does the same with all its presidents. Respect, where we put all our differences aside and stand as a united front. I tried to analyse the situation like in primary school maths, to find the root cause of all this, and then remember what my teacher taught me after hitting me on the head with the duster (they did it back then), “find the common denominator and you’ll solve the equation”. “Nineteen Eighty-Seven!” She would have said - “Correct for 3 points”.

By doing a Pontius Pilot on Frank, that will be all Prime Ministers; except for Rabuka, who might be next if the trend continues.

This destructive divisive politics must stop “boys”. I see you’ve given the heavy lifting to the brave “girls”.

Truth and Reconciliation? Truth - impossible because of oaths of allegiance. Reconciliation - possible if there is the will for the country to heal and move on.