Onus on Gavoka, Radrodro to Pick Up Baton from Tabaiwalu and Finish Race
Viliame Gavoka and Aseri Radrodro have just been handed a heavier burden – to keep the late Pio Tabaiwalu’s dream alive.
The SODELPA MPs know that after Mr Tabaiwalu’s untimely death they need to pick up the baton he left behind and finish the race.
Mr Tabaiwalu was brutally honest in his critical analysis of the party’s governance and its viability for the future.
Because he was not a Member of Parliament he had that flexibility to be able to criticise the administration in a frank, open and candid manner. He was not bound by rules and conventions in the parliamentary caucus.
So he led the charge to clean up SODELPA and position it to captalise on the gains from the 2018 General Election.
Mr Gavoka and Mr Radrodro have also shared their views on similar issues but are more restrained because of the internal rules of engagement in caucus and the Management Board, the party’s governing body. Their challenge now is to carry on Mr Tabaiwalu’s legacy – the key elements are an inclusive policy which encourages the participation in national development of all members of society including the vulnerable, women and youths, the rule of law, transparency, accountability and good governance, basic rights and fundamental freedoms like freedom of expression and the media and an equitable distribution of services and resources so no one is left behind. Mr Tabaiwalu was particularly concerned with the tag that the iTaukei were “asset rich but cash poor” and he had been working hard before his death to address it, consistent with his ideological belief. While they communally own 91 per cent of the country’s total land mass, their economic status does not reflect that. He was focussed on trying to get the iTaukei to derive economic benefits from those resources.
He entered the leadership contest because he strongly felt that it needed a change – new leader, new idea, new direction – one that moves towards the ideals of democratic socialism and social liberalism. That task is now in the hands of Mr Gavoka and Mr Radrodro who share Mr Tabaiwalu’s sentiments. They are challenging incumbent Sitiveni Rabuka. The other candidate is ousted president Ro Filipe Tuisawau. Mr Gavoka and Mr Radrodro are capable leaders who are going in with their own unique individual
Their challenge now is to carry on Mr Tabaiwalu’s legacy
strength. Mr Gavoka has been down this road before when he contested the position for the first time. He narrowly lost to Mr Rabuka by 1.5 points. Mr Rabuka’s experience as a former Prime Minister made the difference and carried him across the line. There was strong belief that he would lead SODELPA to victory in 2018 but he failed. That loss plus the cracks in the party before the 2018 election resurfacing after the election makes a strong case for a leadership change – that’s the collective view of Mr Gavoka, Mr Radrodro and the late Mr Tabaiwalu.
Mr Tabaiwalu has gone but his legacy stands as an inspiration to Mr Gavoka and Mr Radrodro to accomplish the mission. It’s now up to them to step up and do it.