Leadership vital: Bainimarama 4

October 13, 2012 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom
By TALEBULA KATE

The Constitution Commission yesterday heard a joint submission from four children of Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama at the Parliamentary Complex in Suva.

The Bainimarama siblings Ruby-Ann Sorovaki, Litiana Loabuka, Ratu Meli Bainimarama and Bernadette Bainimarama presented a submission which they described as their personal experiences that they would like to share; very general, very raw and came from their hearts.

Some of the key points highlighted by the siblings were the reform of the electoral systems, ending the coup culture, state and religion to be separate, developing a common national identity and the viable candidacy for the General Elections.

Spokesperson for the siblings, Mrs Sorovaki said it was very vital that we had ‘leaders who walk the talk’ and would like the people to experience and see a better Fiji.

They would like to see a leader for Fiji who is steadfast; has an ear for the concerns of the people and was in touch and in tune with what was happening.

“We can have the best policies, the best infrastructure and the best workforce but if our leaders lack the vision to move our country forward then all is in vain,” Mrs Sorovaki said.

The siblings recommended that all those intending to stand for elections should have proof of sound viable financial standings.

Mrs Sorovaki said parliament should not be a means for them to earn money or power, suggesting for those who would like to stand for elections to provide a minimum of $10,000 non-refundable deposit and be without any criminal record.

On the issue of ending the coup culture, she said the perpetrators of the 2000 coup had worked under the pretext of the ‘vanua’ and the alleged reason that the land and freedom of the iTaukei would be taken away from them.

“Rebels in 2000 were wrong but no one other than the military spoke out and said this is wrong,” Mrs Sorovaki said.

Therefore they recommended the need to strengthen all opportunities for a sustainable democracy and just governance so there would be no more coups.

The siblings supported the one-person one-vote system and the need to have an anti discrimination act.

She said after the past coups people immediately came out and voiced their concerns for Fiji to be declared a Christian State which should not be the case.

“The two are separate; Fiji is an entity unto itself and religion is separate,” she said.

The Bainimarama siblings urged those eligible to vote in the 2014 General Elections to look back and see what has worked for them in the past, what hasn’t, what has caused dissention, what has brought about happiness and free will and use that to make their decisions.