A ‘voice for the voiceless’
WHEN you see the injustices around you, it is hard to sit back and close your eyes and ears to the cries of the people.
Robert Charles Joseph said it was for this reason, he decided to move out of his comfort zone and venture into politics.
The Lautoka man said he grew up in the shadows of his father, David Joseph, a renowned boxer.
“For the 11 years he was involved in boxing, I was there,” the 66-year-old said.
“And I think I grew up with that spirit – to always stand up for myself and for the people who can’t.”
Mr Joseph said standing as a candidate in the 2022 General Election under the Fiji Labour Party banner was a no brainer.
“Our leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, is the only person that can turn our economy around and address all the issues we are facing.
“The current government is so focused on contracting a lot of its project work out, instead of ensuring our locals are up-skilled and employed, we need to change that.
“What can the $100 a month pension provide for pensioners and older people in today’s Fiji – maybe enough for one week – that needs to change.
“People are struggling and starving.
“I live in the city. I see it every day.”
Mr Joseph said he wanted to be “a voice of the voiceless”.
“These are the streetwalkers, the homeless, the destitute, those that are looked down upon in society.
“I believe we need a big forgiveness session - forgive each other and move on. The country can’t move forward without this.
“We must run the nation in love.
“Life is like a boomerang. Whatever you throw out will come back to haunt you. It will come back to you.
“And lastly, we need a blessed country, not a rich country.
“When the focus is money, everything will be centred around it and we will forget what matters the most – the people – and how our decisions affect them.”