A reflection of the struggles and pain
WHILE the Colonial rule had its purpose for Fiji and Fijians, the road to independence began as early as 1900 if not even before.
The indigenous community was represented in the Legislative Council in 1904 with two chiefs and the Indian community was first represented in 1910 with one representative, both chosen by the Governor.
The struggles by the Indian community saw them gaining the right to vote in 1929 to elect their representative to the legislative council while the indigenous community was respected with the continuance of representation by the nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs until they obtained the right to vote in 1963 and elected their own representatives in 1966.
Certainly, there had been sacrifices, struggles, pain, suffering and joy during this journey.
Since the Independence in 1970, Fiji saw many governments that were elected by the people with so much hope that they will address their issues for a united and prosperous Fiji with a sense of security and belonging. Did we really achieve what we hoped for?
Did we have a government that really looked after the people?
Did we have a leader who genuinely made efforts to see us through? Did we ever find a leader who can unite us as one that will give us the real meaning of security?
These are the questions that we must ponder on while we celebrate Fiji Day.
This day must be of a reflection of our struggles and pain. This day also must be of our determination as to what Fiji must become tomorrow.
Since the 1900s, for Fijians all ethnic segments, it has always been about us as one finding peace, harmony, and progress.
However, unfortunately, our struggles divided us with leaders opting to gather crows behind them on ethnic lines, political party lines and individuals who appeared as the saviours of our people, but only with the greed for power to seize power from one another.
Since then, it has been a fight against each other, but not as a fight for all of us to overcome and walk into a future with hope.
Even today, Fiji is faced with the dilemma of conflicts among leaderships, political parties, and individuals and at times within our own political parties, again over individualistic greed and agendas.
To me as the leader of Freedom Alliance, the question that I ask myself is simple.
Is there a leader who can truly unite us that will than give us the true meaning of sense of belonging and security, a security that is not just a bubble that can burst anytime, but one that can clearly take us to the beautiful destination that we long for?