The Fiji 2014 Elections and the Aftermath Frank Bainimarama is now the newly elected Prime Minister of Fiji for the next four years. As mentioned previously the election results are hardly surprising. However the magnitude of support given to Bainimarama may have surprised some. About 60% of people who casted their votes, voted for Bainimarama’s party. As high as 90% of the Indian community and at least 50% of indigenous Fijians voted for Bainimarama. The QORVIS consultants hired by Frank clearly thought through and implemented an effective communication and marketing strategy, and helped by the mighty government machinery – executive arm and the judiciary; media – radio, newpapers and TV, to persuade and capture the imagination of the people. Many people were impressed by the new roads, new schools, free education, and other attractive promises by Bainimarama. Most people especially those in rural areas and villages had clearly benefited by the huge developments carried out in their areas – something which has not happened for a very long time. The other parties such as SODELPA, NFP, FLP, ONE FIJI clearly had a huge disadvantage going into the elections in terms of funding and strategy. I was in Fiji just when the pre-polling started, and I couldn’t help but notice the continuous and constant advertising through the various media of election messages by the Fiji First party. It was clear that with government machinery behind them, Fiji First had a distinct advantage. The other parties with less funding and resources just could not compete. The parties opposing Fiji First were like the Fiji rugby team heading into a World Cup with a hastily put together squad a few months before the event, to play against the mighty All Blacks! However there were some hard working candidates such as Niko Nawaikula of SODELPA who travelled to almost the whole of Vanua Levu visiting almost every village, to disseminate his message, and to rebuff the messages the villagers were constantly hearing through the various media streams. I worked for a few months in the legal department of the NLTB when on semester break from Waikato University back in the late 90s when Niko was the Manager Legal, and am aware of his humble nature, ability and knowledge in particular on land issues. Niko had the second highest number of votes in the SODLEPA party after Ro Teimumu Kepa, and even had more votes than his paramount chief of Cakaudrove, Tui Cakau Naiqama Lalabalavu. Niko’s strategy of visiting the villages, utilising his Vanua connections, and being very honest and sincere in his messages proved effective. He will fight tooth and nail in Parliament for the land and identity issues that impact his people – key things which he had campaigned on. The various reported lapses in the election processes continue to raise questions about the credibility of the results. Beginning from pre-polling until the final count, the process has been marred by inadequate safeguards, and checks and balances to provide guarantee and assurance that there has not been any tampering of ballot papers and skewing of results. There is an air of distrust about the results and some people still wonder what the true results were. It does not augur well to the beginning of this new journey. Anything which is not based on integrity will eventually fall and be exposed one day. Only time will tell. Fiji must move forward now. Regardless of what one person may think about the election processes, or the results, it is better in the long run that Fiji continue to move forward. Fiji is treading on some very delicate grounds, and the best way forward is ‘go with the flow’ for now. To go against the flow could be more disastrous socially, politically and economically. It is like walking a tight rope between two mountain peaks, one wrong step and it could be fatal. Fiji must accept Frank Bainimarama as the new Prime Minister and let him run the country for the next four years. To survive the four years, Bainimarama must adjust his leadership style. As mentioned before, Bainimarama’s leadership style over the last eight years was that of a dictator – whatever he says goes. There is a different dynamic now both within his team and outside his team. He must now listen to what others think and be able to debate intelligently in Parliament. One cannot rule out an internal coup within his party if they are not happy about his leadership style in the new parliamentary democratic environment. Frank’s new government still has his key lieutenants and colonels from the army like Cawaki, Tuitubou, Seruiratu, Rika, Natuva and Pio – so no doubt he will be banking on them for support within caucus. There is also an overwhelming majority of Fijian or itaukei members within the overall 50 members of Parliament – about 32 Fijians (Taukei), 16 Indians, 1 part European and 1 Rotuman – there is hope amongst some that there are enough Fijians in the caucus, and opposition to keep the Attorney General Aiyaz Khaiyum in his rightful place, given that Frank has been easily swayed by the advice of the AG in the past. At the end of the day the people are the winners. As I said before, the way people have voted shows that either they are very stupid, or very smart. Very stupid in the sense that they still voted the person who has restricted their freedoms for the last eight years and yet promised or gave them a few freebies (free education, free milk etc), roads and schools close to election time to make them forget about their loss of fundamental freedoms. Or very smart in the sense that they have gotten some very good things from Frank such as free education, developments and schools, but they still voted for Frank to avoid some real fears and practical problems posed by a SODELPA led government, which could lead to another coup, and that could take Fiji back drastically. Voting for Frank also enable Fiji to have a parliamentary democracy where the people effectively reduce Frank’s power, where their representatives now have a voice, and there will be a strong opposition to scrutinise every move Frank makes. Having the elections has been a victory for the people. Frank’s unbridled power has been done away with. The next four years will see either the continued rise or the demise of Frank. Power has now been transferred back to the people through Parliament, and through the various democratic machinery of government which Frank and his government must abide by. The Auditors Generals Report must be released to determine the true state of government finances. Transparency, accountability and the rule of law must now be paramount. Frank must not only abide by these but must be seen to abide by them. The people of Fiji will now begin to see the truth about the state of the nation – will there be further economic woes and continued rise in cost of living, what is the true state of national debt, what is the truth on land legislations and many more. Whether this is the rise of a new dawn for Fiji, or whether it is heading towards more turbulent waters surely remains to be seen.
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 19:52:22 +0000
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