Page 6 - IB FEB 2019

We Say

Bipartisan votes’ the way forward

The nation’s interest, not the party

COuLD bipartisan votes served as a Chairman of
in parliament be the the Parliamentary Ap-
way forward for Fiji? propriations Committee
This is a rather dif- and of the House Com-
ficult proposition for mittee, and as Minister
some of Fiji’s parlia- for Foreign Affairs and
mentary representa- external Trade, and Pro-
tives, given their loyal- vincial Development and
ties to their political par- Multi ethnic Affairs. He
ties and the bitterness is also well known for
of last year’s election his sense of humour,
campaign. which could prove very
However, Fiji’s parlia- useful when things get
ment has become more heated in the House.
an arena for ‘blaming In initially agreeing to
and shaming’ and petty back Ratu epeli’s nomi-
differences, rather than nation, the Opposition
a place where critical recognised the most
developmental chal- qualified candidate for
lenges are debated, and the Speaker’s position,
policies improved and despite their political dif-
agreed. ferences. It was a judge-
It is evident that for ment based on merit,
some MPs, the best in- and in the best interests
terest of their party is far of the people of Fiji.
more important than the When it came to the
interests of Fiji and its vote however, while the
people. In some cases, NFP voted for Ratu epeli,
this means the voice of SODeLPA parliamentar-
voters is ignored, and ians backed Waqanika.
the very people they Fijian media outlets
elected have misrepre- quoted Opposition leader
sented their will. Sitiveni Rabuka as say-
The question is, can ing while he supported
Government and Oppo- Ratu epeli, he opted to
sition parliamentarians vote for Waqanika on
look past these party the day in line with the
principles and learn to Former president now Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. Photo: SuPPliEd influence of his own
work together for the party members.
benefit of Fiji’s people, rather than sweeping matters of national Opposition Whip Lynda Tabuya has told Islands Business that
interest under the rug due to party affiliation and solidarity. working with Government had always been part of their mandate.
Is it right that a good idea or policy that “We want to work with them, we can agree with them on certain
is in the best interest of the people will issues, but it also has to coincide with our Party’s principles,”
Party interest be ignored or denied just because it is she said.
vs the nation’s presented by one party and not the other? Tabuya said they look forward to working with the Government
We saw one example of this tension for the betterment of the Fijian people, because at the end of the
at play during the election of Fiji’s new day, all decisions made in parliament must be for the people.
Speaker of the House, Ratu epeli Nailatikau. Initially the oppo- For the people they say. Well the vote for
sition SODeLPA and National Federation Party (NFP) agreed to Speaker shows there is still some work to
back Ratu epeli’s nomination. However the weekend before the Decide for the do to overcome political differences and
vote, a SODeLPA faction put up an alternative candidate, Tanya people find ground where the Government of
Waqanika, who unsuccessfully contested last year’s election on the day and the Opposition can agree on
the party ticket. matters critical to Fiji’s future. There have
Ratu epeli was always the stronger candidate, as a former been other examples in parliament this month where government
President of Fiji from 2009 to 2015, Vice President, and Speaker and opposition MPs have attacked the messenger rather than
of the House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006. He has also addressing the issue being raised.

6 Islands Business, February 2019