SODELPA candidate stands by ‘Faith’
FAITH Grace says she was given a message by God to join politics back in 2017.
The retired teacher is one of 54 approved candidates under the Social Democratic Labour Party (SODELPA) banner.
Formerly known as Jacqueline Pareti Savu, she attended Veiuto Primary School, Tonga High School and Suva Grammar School.
Ms Grace is the first born of five siblings - now four after the death of her brother in 1997.
Her father is Captain Savenaca Nasu Savu, a former Air Pacific pilot and her mother is a business woman Anne Siupeli Rodan-Savu who runs her own boutique in Pacific Habour.
Ms Grace said she entered politics in 2017 after receiving three orders from God while doing her “quiet time” in her home in Navatu, Sabeto in Nadi.
“The three orders were to resign from your job, get involved in politics and take out Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum,” she said.
She said she had been arrested and charged in court for her political beliefs and “as I sleep on the floor of the dirty police cell I encourage myself with “nanumi Viti Faith”.
“I have completed the first two orders in 2018 and I will complete the third order at this year’s 2022 General Election.”
She said she decided to stand as a candidate for SODELPA because she believed in the party’s policies and party leader Mr Gavoka’s vision for a better quality of education and empowering resource owners and farmers.
“I support our party leader because he supports youth and women as evident in the increase in candidates of the two groups in this year’s candidate’s lineup.
“I chose SODELPA as I am a pro-indigenous supporter and I was a supporter of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) as well.
“SODELPA is a democratic party which allows us to voice our opinions and I believe this party best supports the aspirations of the indigenous people of Fiji.”
Ms Grace started the “white tekiteki” movement to empower women to be represented in Parliament.
“This is to see as many women in Fiji represented in Parliament, so if women (and men) wear white tekiteki it means that they support the move to see at least 30 per cent of women represented in the Fiji Parliament.
“When I get into Parliament, the first thing I will push for are the implementation of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), abolition of all Tertiary Education Loans (TELS) debt, free tertiary education and matua classes for all towards their first degree.
“Also the implementation of $5 an hour minimum wages rate and creating employment opportunities for sports people, workers at national, regional and international levels.”
The 49-year-old holds a diploma in Education from the
Fiji College of Advanced Education (FCAE), a Bachelor of Education degree and a postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies from the University of the South Pacific (USP).
She has taught for over 24 years in schools around the country, including Dudley High School, Ratu Latianara Junior High School and Tilak High School.
Her message to voters is to turn up and vote on December 14 and vote 506 for Faith Grace.
“My advice to women on politics is that if you have a passion and ideas to help empower our people to better their lives then - go for it!”