Why didn’t the PA tell people Rabuka was going to India for medical treatment for transparency’s sake?

Not long ago, in fact in February, The People’s Alliance Party leader, Sitiveni Rabuka told Radio New Zealand that the health situation of the country’s leaders should not be a state secret.

Mr Rabuka was referring to Mr Bainimarama’s trip to Melbourne for a heart operation. He said the Government’s silence over Mr Bainimarama’s condition was deafening.

He also questioned why Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had not disclosed details about his own medical check-up in Singapore before Mr Bainimarama’s trip.

He was supported by National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad who echoed the same sentiments – that Fijians had a right to know what happened to their leaders.

These comments are hypocritical when we have just found out that Mr Rabuka has left Fiji for medical treatment in India. The party has not released any statement regarding his trip. Do the people have a right to know what’s happening with the leaders of The PA? Of course they do. Why? Because this is the party that is hoping to form the next Government with the NFP. People expect Mr Rabuka and his team to practise what they preach. If they demand transparency from the Government, they are expected to be practising it right now. There cannot be one rule for the Government and another rule for Opposition parties. In the Opposition they should be showing what they would do if they get into Government.

All politicians whether in Government or Opposition are public figures by virtue of their roles and engagements. Their core business is the people and the public interest.

Some people are already dubbing Mr Rabuka’s team as the new Government in waiting. As such they follow their developments and movements.

If they are the real deal, do they measure up to the people’s expectations? One of the expectations is that they practise what they preach.

If they talk about no secrecy in national leaders’ movements here and overseas they have a lot of explaining to do about Mr Rabuka’s quiet departure for India.

There is clear contradiction and hypocrisy.

They may argue that they are not in Government yet and cannot be subjected to the same scrutiny. They are wrong. It does not matter which side they are on, they will be judged on the same standards and principles. Again, it must be repeated that all politicians, especially those that are contesting the election, have a moral obligation to stand by these standards and principles. If they talk about the need to be transparent, they must set an example.

In this case, they failed miserably and did what they accused the Government of doing.

Yes, the people are entitled to know Mr Rabuka’s movements, personal or otherwise. That applies to all his political allies and opponents, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It comes with the territory as they say.

The bottom line for voters in this election is they are looking for people they can trust and depend on to govern them for the next four years. They want integrity – politicians who do exactly what they say or practise what they preach.