Page 27 - IB June 2017

Religion

on the cards Working with minorities

THE CANDIDATES
WHEN William Floyd arrived in the
Claude Fong-Toy Colony of Fiji in 1870 – four years
REVEREND Claude Fong Toy is Dean before cession to Fiji – the treatment
of the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, of labourers from the Solomon Islands
Suva, Fiji. and New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) was
This is the seat of the Archbishop a problem.
and a central part of the Diocese of Working conditions were atrocious
Polynesia. and most of the labourers had been
Fong-Toy is – like many Fijians – of taken to Fiji against their will.
mixed Chinese, European and Fijian The Methodist Church had by then
ancestry with roots in Dreketi, Macuata been in the colony for 35 years, the
in the north of Fiji. He holds a Certificate Catholics 29 and the denominations
in Theology and is known in the church were fighting for domination over the
for his strong stand on social justice and native population.
inclusivity. By necessity or strategy, Floyd saw a
While the young cleric’s age may act niche for the Anglican Church of which
against him in the election, he will cer- he was a priest and missionary.
tainly have the support from Electoral Floyd began his work among the
College delegates in Northern Fiji and Solomon Island, ni-Vanuatu and In- community of mainly traders and market
among the younger members of the dian communities which had generally gardeners.
congregation. been untouched by the larger Christian
denominations. This was the forerunner to what has
Amy Chambers That mission has continued until to- become the very successful Yat Sen School
operated by the Fiji Chinese community.
ONE of three strong women candi- day with the establishment of churches At the time even education was segre-
dates, Reverend Amy Chambers nee on Ovalau , Vanua Levu and on the gated and the St John’s Melanesian School
Fong-Toy is the paternal aunt of the outskirts of Suva where the Melanesian was operated by the church in Suva begin-
Dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, communities settled. ning in 1925.
Claude. In Lautoka and Labasa the mission The school was later moved to Wailoku
A former manager at Air Pacific to the Indian community included the where it exists today catering mainly to
(forerunner to Fiji Airways), Chambers provision of schools, the destitute the descendants of Solomon Islanders.
worked for the church as a lay member and women. A children’s home built St Paul’s Church School closed after nine
in Labasa for several years before ob- between Suva and Nausori in Central years of operation due to the lack of
taining a Theology degree and entering Fiji has for years provided sanctuary finances and was eventually taken over
the ministry. to orphans and victims of domestic by the Chinese community.
Chambers is head of the Saint John’s violence or abuse. Today the Anglican Church continues
Theological College in Suva and is But one of the often forgotten contri- to minister to the minority communities,
seen as a good administrator with the butions of the church in Fiji is the Saint providing much-needed land and social
management skills necessary for the Paul’s Church School in Suva which services
financial sustainability of the church. catered for the children of the Chinese
She has a no-nonsense attitude and is
a straight shooter – two attributes which
will count for her in some circles but just head of the church in her home country on women, youth and social welfare.
as easily against in others. where she has had governance experi- Lomaloma holds a Masters Degree
ence at national level. Her experience in and is known for being forthright in
dealing with the state and private sector her views.
Lola Koloamatangi will be an advantage.
THIS former Tongan Police Commis- Orisi Vuki
sioner is highly respected for her wise Sereima Lomaloma
counsel and ability to address issues of A FORMER senior civil servant in Fiji, THE Vicar-General, technically second
women and youth in a society which Lomaloma holds a number of senior in line to the Archbishop, Vuki is an or-
tends to be male-dominated. positions within the church including dained priest with a Masters in Theology.
Koloamatangi is from a staunch community engagement. He was instrumental in the church’s
Anglican family and is a counsellor on Respected at home and abroad, Lo- outreach programme after Tropical Cy-
social issues in Tonga. maloma was ordained a priest but has clone Winston.
She also represents the church as spent most of her life outside the Civil Vuki’s strength will be his stint as
Vice-Moderator of the regional Pacific Service working at church headquarters. Vicar-General and the potential seamless
Conference of Churches. Her term with She has been instrumental in the ad- handover from the outgoing archbishop
the PCC ends next year. ministration of the Diocese of Polynesia if he is chosen to succeed by the Electoral
Koloamatangi may be front-runner for and has a strong background in issues College.

Islands Business, May 2017 27