Page 9 - IB MAY 2017

Politics
Out of the shadows to join a family calling

‘ ... I want to

give back. I was

trained to give

back. If you are

born the eldest
Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi
you get a double

whammy, extra

attention and

an unspoken

demand for
Adi Vuikaba Speed Dr Timoci Bavadra Photos: File
special service. ‘
now, a public service doctor. My mother and provinces put their trust in public
was a civil servant all the way through to policy but the problem is the elephant in
the public service commission until politi- the room.” rule of law is what we need because that’s
cal life beckoned at age 39.” “I want to give back. I was trained to ultimately what’s going to develop places
[The family connection to Bau reads like give back. If you are born the eldest you like Noikoro and the whole of Fiji.”
a Fiji history book: Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi get a double whammy, extra attention and Her political views stem from a strong
Senior and Adi Litiana Maopa’s eldest an unspoken demand for special service.” belief in diversity and the common good.
child was Ratu Josefa Lalabalavu Sukuna Her brother, Ratu Qoro Draunidalo, who “I am a progressive. There are some
- who was among the first Fijians to re- died days before the last election, was a good points on the right of politics and
ceive a university degree and went on to great study. “He was much better than me some good points on the left but I am a
lay the groundwork for Fiji’s self rule and and had more interaction with the vanua progressive.”
preservation of native land. Their second than I did.” It’s not an easy position to defend at a
child Adi Asenaca Teimumu Vuikaba was “Bubu La and her Beqa family, were time when extreme views like partisan
Ms Draunidalo’s great-grandmother, who very influential too in my formative years. and racial politics were the cards of choice.
trained to be a nursing sister in Sydney “I loved my father (outspoken army “It’s quite an uphill battle to tell people
before returning to service where she met officer, later parliamentarian and Cabinet on all sides that the coup culture has
a young doctor from Noikoro Ratu Tomasi Minister Colonel Savenaca Draunidalo) as failed all of you, it has victimised all of
Suguvanua Latianara. The youngest Ratu any daughter would but my upbringing, you, and because of it all of you have a
Joni Doviverata was Roko Tui Bau and political views are definitely my mother. sick economy, your hospitals are sick, the
the father of Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi (Jnr).] Their views on Fijian tradition and pro- education system is sick, because you’ve
Ms Draunidalo’s call to politics seemed tocols at home and in the Vanua were allowed yourself to be played like this.”
a natural progression. matched though.” She said it was a great “If we keep accepting these extremes,
“My mother’s thinking was that na- privilege to serve the people of Fiji. “I am we will keep getting this rubbish. Diver-
tional service was a way to give back very grateful, I am humbled by the people sity is our strength and we need to take
better to the province in terms of good who gave me their single vote and I hope our country back from coup makers by
policies so the whole country benefits. that I served them with some distinction the ballot. We need to reset the clock. We
The coups have made it harder for central when I was there in the House.” have a lot of catching up to do but Fijians
government to reach those who are the “It’s about taking their views, articu- are resilient people.”
most remote and that’s why there’s dis- lating what is right to the government, q fosterpeople@gmail.com
advantage all across the interior including making sure they do what is right by law, - Sophie Foster, former Deputy Editor of The
Tailevu, Naitasiri, Ba, Nadi, Navosa and in those were the same issues that took me Fiji Times, works for the Courier Mail owned by
Vanua Levu. Leaders from those districts into politics. Long political stability and News Limited, former owner of The Fiji Times

Islands Business, May 2017 9