Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua
The writer is one of the country’s paramount chiefs. He holds the title of Roko Tui Bau. The views expressed are of the writer and not of the Fiji Sun.
The former Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Anan, once said: “Elections are at the heart of democracy. When conducted with integrity, they allow citizens to have a voice in how and by whom they are governed.”
Electoral systems play a crucial role in determining voter political behaviour and choices. Elections are not an end in themselves. Its purpose is to ascertain the will of the people regarding their government. There are processes to confer legitimacy to govern, and to peacefully resolve political competition. A genuine election is ultimately one in which the outcome reflects the freely expressed choices of the people.
The elections provide an important opportunity to advance democratisation and encourage political liberalisation. For an election to be free and fair, certain civil liberties, such as the freedom of speech, association and assembly, are required to legitimise it. Evidently the results of the 2022 General Election reflect the will and the voice of the people and must be respected.
The road to Level 4, Government Buildings is long, taxing and exhausting.
Becoming a candidate is only the beginning of the election process. The end result justifies the means where the leader of the winning party ends up heading to Level 4 while the leader of the losing party heads off to the Opposition Chambers.
The successful candidates and their respective parties have managed to persuade voters that they deserve their individual votes. The people have spoken and chosen who they know will lead justly and fairly and according to their conscience, values and principles for the next four years.
Whoever they voted for is personal to them. At the end of the day, their
friends, family and relatives will still be there for them. Fifty-eight per cent of the voters have spoken out and indicated that they wanted change. They wanted a government they felt will better define their future. The rest is history.
STATS
Of the nine parties that contested the election, only four met the five per cent threshold needed to qualify for seats in parliament.
However, no party won a clear majority. The total number of registered voters in 2022 was about 694,000. Of this about 474,000 voted, which is about 68 per cent. In 2014, the total number of registered voters was about 591,000. Of this, about 500,000 voted, which was about 84 per cent.
In 2018, the total number of registered voters was about 543,000.
Of this, 398,000 voted, which was
about 72 per cent. It is evident that the voter numbers continued to decline despite repeated efforts by FEO (Fijian Elections Office) to encourage and remind the populace the importance of voting.
It is also interesting to note that despite the free transportation provided in 2022 we still recorded the lowest turnout of voters since 2014.
To those of you who did not vote, regardless of your ethnicity even if you did believe that your vote wouldn’t have directly improved your own life, please remember that it could have positively affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of others if you did.
FijiFirst won a plurality, securing 26 seats while the newly formed The People’s Alliance (PA) won 21 seats. Its coalition partner, the National
I would like to offer my warm congratulations to the PM Rabuka and his Coalition Government for their victory and my best wishes for their success as they prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of administering the affairs of the nation.
Federation Party (NFP), won five seats, leaving the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) with three seats. Notwithstanding this negotiations to form a government began after the results of the elections was determined. This saw FijiFirst and the PA-NFP coalition seeking to woo the overnight kingmakers, SODELPA.
On December 20, SODELPA’s management board voted to form a coalition government with The PA and NFP. The ruling FijiFirst party at this stage still did not concede defeat and, instead chose to wait for the Members of Parliament to elect the new the Prime Minister during the first session of Parliament. This session was supposed to be held on December 21, but was delayed, as no public announcement had come from the President yet. SODELPA’s management board met for a second time on December 23, because of anomalies during the first meeting again voted to form a government with The PA-NFP coalition.
To this end the President called for the first parliamentary session since the election on the morning of December 24.
The Turaga na Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, was elected and confirmed as Speaker of parliament winning 28 votes of the 55 cast.
Lenora Qereqeretabua was elected and confirmed as Deputy Speaker on a similar margin.
Sitiveni Rabuka was also elected and confirmed as Prime Minister by Parliament, winning 28 votes of the 55 cast and officially ending Voreqe Bainimarama’s 16-year rulership as PM and solidifying The PA-NFP-SODELPA Government. Bainimarama then conceded defeat accordingly.
SHOW OF CHARACTER
The Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, Major-General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, is to be commended for reiterating that the military would respect the outcome of the elections as well as the voting in Parliament for the position of PM.
It certainly provided comfort in terms of security and sent out a positive message to all Fijians regarding the position of the military. Life is a collection of moments. Some moments are happy while some are frustrating and sorrowful. There are also moments which are unforgettable with either good or bad memories. We have seen this manifest in the last few weeks.
The nation has just experienced such moments amongst the candidates, the political parties and more so amongst the general populace, now that the official results of the elections has been finalised and a new government sworn in. Subsequently, I would like to offer my warm congratulations to the PM Rabuka and his Coalition Government for their victory and my best wishes for their success as they prepare to take up the responsibilities and challenges of administering the affairs of the nation. The next four years will not be easy but I have every confidence that this Government will deliver under his leadership.
Furthermore, to hear the Prime Minister say, that he will not mention the words ‘My Government’ in any of his future speeches is very humbling and reflects the character of the man.
I also thank the former Prime Minister and the previous government for their term in office.
When it became evident that Rabuka would be sworn-in as PM, the sound of singing echoed from all over Suva followed by the lighting of fireworks and the blaring of horns.
Phones started ringing non-stop. There was a surreal feeling that gripped the air, thus sending out a clear message that the curtain of fear in the land had been shredded to pieces.
The change in Government has brought about great joy and relief amongst the civil servants, with the reassurance coming from the PM himself.
PLIGHT OF THE iTAUKEI
During the 2022 General Election, it was evident how fragmented the iTaukei were in terms of political affiliations with respect to their rights to vote. Of further interest was how many iTaukeis actually turned up to vote.
I don’t think we realise the importance of voting. Or is it just ignorance?
We tend to have a lackadaisical attitude towards the more important things in life. Rather, we are contented and happy when our stomachs are full.
We have never been as fragmented as we are now. This is something that is not new.
During the General Election in March 1977, as a result of a split in the ethnic Fijian vote, the ruling Alliance Party of then PM Ratu Kamisese Mara suffered a narrow defeat.
Although the Alliance Party received the most votes, it won only
What difference will the forum make in the lives of the ordinary iTaukei especially the younger generation? What place does the traditional system play within the economic and infrastructure development of the nation? The institution will have the responsibility of listening and discerning what it is, do the iTaukeis want and in what form do they want them to survive in this current environment. It needs to start embracing the values of kinship, reciprocity and mutual respect that will provide a bridge within the indigenous people first and then flow into other communities. Finally, the new coalition of The People’s Alliance, NFP and SODLEPA now have the mandate to lead the nation. Four years will go by quickly. They have a 100-day plan as part of their short- term goals. No doubt they will have mid-term and long term goals as part of their manifesto.
24 seats, two fewer than the IndoFijian-dominated NFP.
In fact, this split has worsened and we are more divided then we have ever been. Since 1987, there have been about 14 predominantly iTaukei parties that have emerged only to be dissolved and fade away into oblivion.
Out of the nine parties that contested the elections five were predominantly iTaukei parties, most of which have only been in existence for about five years with SODELPA being the oldest one. Unlike the only two predominantly Indo-Fijian parties- NFP and the Fiji Labour Party’s, which were founded in 1967 and 1982, respectively and still remain active in today’s political arena.
We can be very fickle, if we are not happy about certain issues in a party we leave and go and form another party.
We are not prepared to sit and consult with one another, preferring the easier way out. This has been our hall mark.
EROSION OF VALUES
The iTaukei parties do not seem to have a good track record when it comes to longevity of the party. This fragmentation can also be related to the erosion of the Fijian culture and importance of iTaukei customs, protocol and values, and the need for a concerted effort to strengthen and restore them before they are lost.
The erosion of values and protocols can be seen in the overwhelming number of inmates in our correction centres and on the streets. This is where the street kids, beggars and homeless are predominantly iTaukei.
It is a sign that the social system can no longer cope and it is time for the iTaukei and their leaders to take stock and look within themselves.
THE NEW GCC
With the coalition Government now in power, the future of traditional leadership in Fiji’s national politics looks bright with government’s plan to reinstate the Great Council of Chiefs. I understand that there are plans to involve the traditional heads of the three confederacies to be spearheaded by the Minister for iTaukei Affairs.
While most will welcome it, it must have a clear and defined role. That is, to have a mission, vision, the composition, the numbers and more importantly it must be apolitical. Questions that need to be asked include, what difference will the forum make in the lives of the ordinary iTaukei, especially the younger generation?
What place does the traditional system play within the economic and infrastructure development of the nation?
The institution will have the responsibility of listening and discerning what it is, do the iTaukei want and in what form do they want them to survive in this current environment.
It needs to start embracing the values of kinship, reciprocity and mutual respect that will provide a bridge within the indigenous people first and then flow into other communities.
Finally, the new coalition of The People’s Alliance, NFP and SODLEPA now have the mandate to lead the nation. Four years will go by quickly. They have a 100-day plan as part of their short- term goals. No doubt they will have mid-term and long-term goals as part of their manifesto.
TRUE TEST
The true test of the leadership of the party will be determined by how well it stands up to adversity. Education is the key. Without good governance it will struggle to build a better Fiji.
Good governance in action is reflected by a government that can promise and deliver.
They will be remembered for the legacy of good governance that they leave behind. Where the people’s problems are heard regardless of how remote they are. In a real democracy, good governance happens where our political leaders work together in cooperation for the good of all.
It brings together friends and foe to work for the common good. Listening and consulting others doesn’t cost anything. It is about the attitude of the people in power and generosity of their spirit and not afraid of being told that they are wrong.
WARNING
My appeal to the new coalition is to be humble but firm in victory and to be careful of those types of people who are there to push their own agendas.
To all those who voted, whatever your political leaning or affiliation, it’s all about the best interest of the nation. Change will not come overnight, the people need to be patient, and not lose their sense of reason, and logic.
So, in the dawn of this New Year, let us work together for the common good of all Fijians.
God Bless Fiji.