4 People To Watch In 2018 POLL
There are four likely candidates already emerging as people to watch for in the 2018 general election.
They are Tanya Waqanika, Filimoni Vosarogo, Alipate Qetaki and Savenaca Narube.
Ms Waqanika, Mr Vosarogo and Mr Qetaki are lawyers and are expected to be endorsed by SODELPA when it announces its candidate list tentatively in September.
Mr Narube is the interim leader of the newest party, Unity Fiji.
Ms Waqanika, Mr Vosarogo and Mr Qetaki are among “high calibre” candidates that SODELPA is targeting as it raises the election stakes. In a party revamp after its constitution was amended with wide-ranging changes, the new leadership believed that raising the quality of candidates would increase their chances of winning the election. Candidates would be measured on their intellectual capacity and professional background.
Ms Waqanika was the lawyer for Fiji TV but left after a management row which also saw the departure of chief executive officer Tevita Gonelevu.
Mr Vosarogo was the leader of the now defunct One Fiji Party. He originally wanted to join SODELPA in 2014 but was rejected. He runs his own practice and is chairman of the Fiji National Rugby League.
Mr Qetaki after an impressive civil service career, was general manager of the iTaukei Land Trust Board before retiring.
All three bring added value to SODELPA because of their background and experience. Ms Waqanika and Mr Vosarogo represent the “rising young generation”. Mr Qetaki will be the person to articulate iTaukei land issues.
Mr Narube, a former Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji, ex-Permanent Secretary of Finance, also worked for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington DC. He has been a consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB). His record speaks for itself.
Political parties are conscious that voters in this election will be more discerning because they have seen what has happened in the first parliamentary term after the 2014 election.
The quality of debate helps them assess and rate their MPs. So parties are going to go for the best candidates if they want to win seats.
Edited by Naisa Koroi
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