Page 8 - IB MAY 2017

Politics
Out of the shadows to join a family calling

by Sophie Foster
IT’S just days after New Year and while
chaos reigned on the mainland as news
spread of an underwater earthquake, the
then President of the National Federation
Party, parliamentarian Tupou Draunidalo,
was sitting unperturbed by the beach.
The threat of a tsunami had passed
many hours beforehand, but the little
island beach was still deserted - and she
was facing an earth shattering decision
of her own.
Eight months into a full term parliamen-
tary ban that many have called “extreme”, In the name of the father ... Tupou Draunidalo, right ...campaigner for the people. Photo: Invictus
she was contemplating how best to step
down so voters didn’t have to miss out on it was ingrained from the get-go that the Deputy Prime Minister Adi Kuini Vuikaba
a voice in Parliament. rule of law was paramount for stable and Speed, preferred a more direct route. One
It would be one of the most difficult successful democracies. of her favourite sayings was “no princes
decisions she’s ever had to make. Raised mostly by her maternal grandfa- and princesses in my house”, usually
“It wasn’t easy,” she said. On reflec- ther who was paramount chief of Navosa, followed by her famous giggle and wink
tion, “it was like any divorce, very heart Tui Noikoro Ratu Aseri Qoro Latianara as her household of 11 children and
wrenching, emotional and difficult”. and grandmother Lanieta Vuni, Ms Draun- stepchildren were handed brooms, mops,
One of her mentors, Sydney-based idalo had learnt leadership at the knee. and dishcloths.
retired lawyer Harish Sharma - who to “It’s just a matter of the house I grew “She would say ‘no special treatment’.
this day calls her “beti” (daughter) - was up in. Even before national leadership She made sure to keep us well grounded,”
once a celebrated leader of the party. Many there was traditional leadership at home. Ms Draunidalo said.
friends, family members, colleagues and It was normal that people would come “I grew up in an environment where we
supporters had rallied to her NFP call. But home all the time with problems they had were brought up to serve. That was our job
the die was cast. like boundary disputes over communally number. We had to excel at school, have
In the weeks leading up to the decision, owned land. Then it was left to the chief to good manners because it would reflect on
it was increasingly clear that her firebrand hear both sides, see what the NLC records where we came from (up until we meet a
approach was out of step with those who say and then tell them this is what it is, bully in which case our duty was to repel
preferred to walk on political eggshells, we have to follow it and keep the peace.” them), and serve others in a way that
especially over the accountability of coup The chiefly system that she saw in op- those who came behind us would see and
makers and other soldiers with coup eration was a far cry from criticism of it do the same thing.”
makers. being a one-way street. Government civil service was also in the
It was a pet peeve, not simply because “It was certainly not the case at home. home as both grandparents served there,
three of Fiji’s four coups had subverted The driving force was the example that and so too did her mother and stepfather,
elected members of her family, but be- was set and the expectation that we will Dr. Timoci Bavadra who went on to be-
cause it had wreaked havoc on 30 years serve others first and foremost.” come Prime Minister. Ms Draunidalo was
of Fiji’s existence - about three-quarters Her grand uncle former Vice President five at the time of their marriage. “Momo
of her life. Roko Tui Bau Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi said was a father figure too”.
Yet it was also a professional affront it best in her eyes, that children in chiefly “Because he was a public sector doc-
for someone who’d spent the better households learnt to serve others “by tor, people often came home for his help.
part of five years in one of the best law osmosis”. When we were unwell, he used to say ‘well
schools in the SouthernHemisphere - the Yet where her grandparents took the go and see a doctor’. He wouldn’t treat us.
Australian National University - where “osmosis” approach, her mother former It was others first. My sister is the same

8 Islands Business, May 2017