Nacuva on way forward June 25, 2013 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom By ROSI DOVIVERATA Former Minister for Tourism, Pita Nacuva “A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service.” Georges Pompidou Words of former French Prime Minister Georges Pompidou and words Pita Kewa Nacuva believes is applicable for those aspiring to stand for next year’s elections. A former national rugby captain, diplomat and Minister, Mr Nacuva is adamant that he is still the Speaker of the House of Representative. “I’m still holding my position as Speaker – going by the court of appeal decision in 2009. “The decision is very clear, the Office of the Speaker becomes vacant on the day immediately before the first meeting of the House of Representatives after the general elections.” Mr Nacuva was elected unopposed on June 5, 2006 to succeed Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. Since 1996, both Mr and Mrs Nacuva have been part of the Family Life Ministries, a division of the Campus Crusade for Christ. Excerpts from his views: As Speaker “It was a great responsibility, directing members of parliament. “Now as I look back, the debate and directing them on how to speak and I thought this is great. It was a great honour.” Mr Nacuva describes those six months as an amazing experience. “Because for the first time, they put up a multi-party cabinet. In 2001 it was difficult because of differences between Mahendra Chaudhry and Laisenia Qarase. “I thought this was going to be a great five years, communications will be easier because the opposition is also part of government, but it’s a shame that it didn’t last that long.” Attributes According to Mr Nacuva, a Member of Parliament is a statesman not a politician. It’s not a name tag, that’s why they are addressed ‘Honourable member’. “So they need to live up to that expectation, to that quality of life. You have to be a person of integrity and also have the desire to serve.” For Mr Nacuva, integrity is based on the Bible. “Let your personal commitment to integrity show in what you do during the day, everyday. Whether it be in parliament or at home.” Why politics “I retired in 2000 and during the coup I was watching, and some of us who have worked during the colonial era and were specially selected to go for training to help take over from the British, the first coup and the second coup – it was a difficult time.” Mr Nacuva recalls a visit by Savenaca Narube on a Saturday afternoon. Mr Narube was one of the special advisers to the military. “He came home and asked ‘Would you join as one of the interim ministers?’. “What made me decide to come in was that some of us have contributed in developing this country from independence… so I thought yes I could go in and help out where I will be able to use my expertise like the lands department or urban development or tourism, “I asked Mr Narube who was going to be Prime Minister, he said Laisenia Qarase and Savenca Siwatibau were earmarked. I said OK, I can work with them. “So I agreed solely for the purpose of taking the country forward. “And while serving, we thought why don’t we form a party so we can continue with what we have started. That’s why we formed the Soqosoqo ni Duavata ni Lewenivanua – soley for the idea of putting the country back again track.” Looking back “It was difficult because we were part and parcel of building the nation. We were hand-picked before independence, we were sent abroad to study.” In 1969 while on a scholarship to study Bachelor of Science majoring in Geography at the Victoria University in New Zealand, Mr Nacuva was headhunted by R.H Regnault the Director of Lands. In a letter dated 3 January, he was offered a place as an Assistant Town Planning officer after completing his studies. “As civil servants, under the colonial administrators, they really knuckle you down and say you’re a civil servant - a servant of a civil society.” The late Tomasi Vakatora’s advice “I always appreciate what the late Tomasi Vakatora always shared while I was his permanent secretary. “That if I ever decide to enter parliament I need to make sure of number one, You must have your own house, your own property, a house here in Suva or in the village, no renting or living with someone else “And secondly, all your children to have attained a bachelor’s degree. “Because when you get into Parliament, you will not be in there to fend for yourself or look for money, but you’re in there to serve.” Current developments “Most of the developments happening today are plans that’s already been in place, in terms of town and planning. But they have been given different priorities by different administrations “Having worked in the civil service, most of these developments have been planned and the current government is just carrying that forward.” Standing in 2014 “I will not be standing in next year’s election, because it all comes back to integrity because for me it’s clear, that I don’t vacate until a day before the first meeting of the house of representatives after a general election.” He says that a lot of offers have come to him, to be a member of certain committees but the answer has always been the same. No Political parties have also approached Mr Nacuva yet his answer remains the same. PM’s party “They didn’t indicate from day one that they are going to form a party. But now that they are going to form a party, it’s a different story altogether. “When Commodore Bainimarama made that utterance, as soon as there is an intention to form a party, they need to leave government aside and concentrate on the party.”
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 06:08:18 +0000
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