Page 16 - IB MAR 2017

2018 Election
EXCLUSIVE Kepa wants support for Winston victims
Out

of

the

race

FIJI’S OPPOSITION Leader, Ro Teimumu
Kepa, is out of the 2018 Election race.
That leaves the field clear for Major-
General Sitiveni Rabuka to lead SO-
DELPA (the Social Democratic Liberal
Party) to the polls as the main rival to
the incumbent Prime Minister, Rear-
Admiral Frank Bainiaramama.
Barring an upset, Fiji will have as
prime minister between 2018 and 2022
an indigenous male who has, some time
in his past, overthrown a democratical-
ly-elected government.
“I’ve made it quite clear that I will not
stand,” Kepa said.
“Under the Constitution, the Leader of
the Opposition remains in office until a
Prime Minister is sworn in. The Consti-
tution also says I cannot cross the floor
or change parties.”
So Kepa will not join Hope where her
allies – former Opposition Leader Mick
Beddoes and political activist Pita Waqa-
vonovono – have already set up shop.
For the time being she will continue to
support efforts to attack the Bainimara-
ma-led Fiji First Party in an attempt to
whittle away at its popularity.
Opinion polls show Bainimarama –
In the aftermath ... victims of Cyclone Winston pick up the pieces. Photo: Invictus who took power in a December 2006

16 Islands Business, March 2017