Who said politicians on opposite sides of the House of Representatives cannot mix?
Four MPs of Naitasiri have shown that it can be done. SODELPA MPs Ro Kiniviliame Kiliraki, Aseri Radrodro and FijiFirst Government MPs Alivereti Nabulivou who is also chairman of the Naitasiri Provincial Council and Timoci Natuva, Minister for Immigration, National Security and Defence, have put aside their politics to work together to help their Naitasiri people.
While Mr Natuva and Mr Nabulivou would have made overtures to Ro Kiniviliame and Mr Radrodro, it was up to the Opposition MPs to say yes. And they did say yes.
Ro Kiniviliame said yesterday their coming together was symbolic and showed that Naitasiri was united. The people responded saying they no longer wanted politics to divide them.
They have learned from the political upheavals of 1987 and 2000 when they were used by certain politicians to achieve their narrow and selfish political agendas. It’s a reminder of a dark past that they do not wish to revisit.
Naitasiri has emerged as a model province in the upholding of law and order and the denunciation of unlawful activities to destabilise the Government.
The four MPs have been at the forefront of this transformation showing leadership and character.
Instead of whingeing and moaning about the challenges that face students and their families in the province and making political football out of it, they have decided to do something positive about it.
They decided to fundraise and proceeds will go towards a scholarship fund to help needy, deserving students in the province. Education needs were identified in a provincial council meeting this year. There was concern over the passing rates and the falling standards. Financial constraints were identified as a major reason for the drop in standards.
Students who cannot qualify for the Toppers Scheme usually drop out of school altogether because they feel they might not be able to pay their loans back through TELS.
The Naitasiri Scholarship Scheme will help them undertake a course of their choice.
The MPs’ personal contribution to the fundraiser is a major boost to the morale of the people. The icing on the cake is that they are presenting themselves as a united front. If the same unity is replicated in other development projects, regional and national, it would make a big difference like it has done to Naitasiri.
The MPs have set an example to other MPs. There is a lot of power and strength in a united approach.
Government MPs are flexible when it comes to working together. The onus is on the Opposition MPs to leave aside politics and join their opponents on development projects in the same spirit as shown by Ro Kiniviliame and Mr Radrodro.
It’s taking parliamentary service to a whole new level, where people take precedence over political interests and expediency. People must always be Number One not self.
When this happens service delivery improves and becomes meaningful.
The Naitasiri “soli” in all its fun and glory represents a huge paradigm shift. It needs to be acknowledged and encouraged because it promotes unity