Ex-head of school rides on SODELPA principles to pave way forward
Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) provisional candidate Ana Naivou believes the party has what it takes to pave the way forward.
The former teacher said what she experienced and encountered this while growing up and it encouraged her to stand for the 2022 General Election.
Ms Naivou shared why she chose to stand for SODELPA.
Why did you choose SODELPA?
“I am grateful that SODELPA has given me a chance to represent my people.
“SODELPA stands for everything that I believe in. A party for the people and by the people with no involvement in the military coups of our times. I believe in democracy and transparency.
“After my service as head of school, I feel that I can reach out to the community at large.
“When the indigenous people of this country are safe, satisfied and protected, all other races will live in peace and harmony as one nation and truly free.
“SODELPA has spent a lot of time and expertise to study the current and former National Budgets. Our duty of care to the people that we have pledged our lives to serve, means that I am committed like those in my party, SODELPA to clean up the massive mess that exists today due to bad governance, non- consultative dictatorial leadership, fueled by greed and big business for their own economic aggrandisement while supported by corrupt politicians who feed a cycle of systemic corruption trickling right down to the very core of our society.
“Fiji needs to be guided by God and we must throw out the Secular State and be guided by Christian values while giving our citizens their right to freedom of worship.”
What were some factors that contributed to your decision?
“In 1985, at the age of 18, I qualified for and started my tertiary studies at Corpus Christi Teachers College. After three years, I graduated in 1987.
“The political upheaval caused by the Sitiveni Rabuka-led coup that year has had a lasting impact on me. I was one of the people who tried to protect some vulnerable Indian women during the cruel events of 1987.
“It is part of our history, but I can still clearly remember what happened and will never trust those who masterminded the coup.
“However, a brave and honest narrative must be accepted and understood in order for our Fijian society today, to emerge with the solutions built upon the very real foundations upon which our nation can move forward into a future of peace, political stability and prosperity.
“That is what I believe and I understand the contributing factors from all sides that led to the ethnic tensions over the centuries, resulting in polarisation till present day”
What are some issues you will be highlighting for this General Election?
1) 29.9 % of Fiji’s population live below the poverty line
2) About 146,000 of the multidimensionally poor population (38 per cent) live in the rural areas compared with 110,000 (23%) in the urban areas.
3) Fiji’s official poverty headcount rate based on the 2019-20 HIES was estimated at 29.9 per cent, which means that around 258,000 individuals were living in poverty during this survey period.
4) A single national poverty line was set at $2179.39 per adult equivalent (AE) per year, or $41.91 per SE per week. This means that a person in Fiji is considered poor if his or her per AE annual consumption expenditure is less than $2179.39 or less than $41.91 per week. In other words, individuals living below this national poverty line cannot afford to buy the essential food and non-food items for their living.
5) Poverty rates are consistent with the distribution of the poor where the majority of them were living in rural areas in 2019-20.
6) The iTaukei population group dominates both the poverty rates and distribution of the poor with 36 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively.
7) By religious group, Christian denomination recorded the highest poverty rates (35 per cent) and the largest proportion (78 per cent) in terms of the distribution of the poor.
8) Similarly, male population reported a slightly higher poverty rate of 31 per cent and with a higher poverty concentration of 52 per cent over their female counterparts.
“Certain segments of the population are scientifically identified as vulnerable.
“SODELPA understands these statistical truths and preaches that harmonious coexistence between all the peoples of Fiji can be realised once the Government seriously tackles the problem of poverty and disparity in our beloved country.
“The indigenous peoples’ growing distrust for the descendants of indentured labourers stemmed from what they saw as Indian political aspirations to dominate in our indigenous homeland coupled with their economic superiority.”