Page 7 - IB Sept-Oct 2020

We Say

FIJI AT 50

By Samisoni Pareti questioning, be in it the media, in parliament, online or in our
schools, is cheaply dismissed as unpatriotic or disloyal? All it
Fiji heads into unchartered waters as it celebrates its 50th does is to create an illusion of passive support and endorse-
anniversary of independence. While its not the first Pacific is- ment.
lands nation to declare independence, this anniversary comes Already Fiji is beginning to see a tear or two on the veneer.
at a time when the impacts of climate change and coronavirus A former expatriate adviser, Graham Davis, is blogging about
are bringing into stark relief some of the underlying chal- racial divisions appearing within Bainimarama’s very own
lenges, and inequalities faced by our people. cabinet. And in response, the Prime Minister has played the
Prime Minister Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama’s determina- man, rather than the ball, calling into question Davis’ profes-
tion to unite Fiji by putting in place a new political order, one sionalism, rather than answering the specific concerns and
where every citizen is equal before the law, irrespective of criticisms he raised.
race, creed or colour ought to be applauded and supported. The increase militarisation in Fiji—and the level of military
Fiji’s fascination, if not obsession with race can be exhausting involvement in the workings of our government and civilian
and depressing. life— is also a concern.
Our social ills, be it poverty, unemployment, crime, home- The new political order, called it militarised democracy or
lessness, violence in our families, or ill health are blind to two-man rule or authoritarianism, would have some sense of
race, or to whatever ethnic grouping one belongs to. permanency were efforts and resources invested into winning
However, the means the PM employed to bring about his the hearts and minds of the Fijian people, both for the first
clean up, or his revolution, threaten to derail whatever good settlers as well as the later settlers of the land. It doesn’t
intentions he had in mind. His dyed-in-the-wool supporters call for a PR campaign, but for an ongoing discussion, a frank
will maintain that the means (Fiji’s fourth coup) justifies the talanoa.
end. However, the fact remains that Bainimarama failed to Anything less than this runs the real risk of lacking perma-
bring many people with him, especially indigenous Fijians. nency, or legitimacy.
This is evidenced by the groundswell of increased support for As for the future? We’re reminded of the one time Islands
the SODELPA political party in the 2018 election, and the con- Business was allowed to interview Bainimarama; and this was
tinued racism demonstrated in much criticism of government way back in 2008, at the main restaurant of the Le Lagon
and government policies. Resort in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Bainimarama was getting ready
Authoritarian rule does not last, over time, any time. Nei- to fly back to Fiji after attending a meeting of the Melanesian
ther does ruling by the barrel of the gun or ruling via decree. Spearhead Group.
Just because these revolutionary ideas have been turned The interview had a rocky start; something to do with
into law, does not mean that the hearts and minds of the where I come from, so I was only able to ask two questions,
people he rules have been won. Just because a multi-million- the second one being: If you were to retire tomorrow, would
dollar public relations machine floods social media with care- your successor continue the changes and the vision you have
fully orchestrated stories of grateful citizens does not mean for Fiji?
the reality faced by many others is masked. Bainimarama’s response was quick: Well I’m not God to
History tells us that. know what tomorrow will bring!
How can fundamental change be permanent when they are
forced upon or imposed on people? When critical thinking, or publisher@islandsbusiness.com

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