Prominent local doctor and FijiFirst candidate Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said what happened during the 2000 coup triggered his decision to join the movement for non-discrimination.

Dr Waqainabete, a surgeon and former Medical Superintendent at Suva’s Colonial War Memorial, joined FijiFirst Party Leader and Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama on Monday night in Raiwaqa during a campaign meeting to speak to residents there.

He said on the afternoon of May 19, 2000, he had gone home to change and it was when he returned to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital to continue his shift when the coup transpired.

He was a junior doctor then.

“It really impacted me,” residents heard.

“On Friday when the coup happened, I had gone home to change and then when I returned to the hospital I did not go back home until Tuesday the following week.

“We stayed at the CWM Hospital to conduct surgeries, care for patients and we slept in the hospital.”

Dr Waqainabete said some of the things that happened during the coup really struck him mainly because indigenous Fijians were hurting each other over the conflicts of others.

“That is when I decided that I will study very hard and do something to ensure that there is no more discrimination between people,” he said.

“When our Prime Minister led the Government, I was happy about the Constitution because the 2013 Constitution protects issues concerning the iTaukei, our land.

“And also, the 2013 Constitution gives us the freedom and right to move together, for us to live in unity, for our children to learn in unity.”

He said in its leadership, FijiFirst wanted all Fijians to move forward together without discrimination, adding that they had united people through development projects.

“Now we live in unity. We interact every day with a clean heart because there is no more discrimination,” Dr Waqainabete said.

“Our Prime Minister wants to lead everyone together and also ensure that we all benefit from the nation’s developments.”

He said he analysed what was happening and did what any educated person would do by making the decision to support and be a part of the work that FijiFirst is doing.

Dr Waqainabete, who is originally from Moala, is the President of the Fiji Medical Association.

He is a former student of Ratu Kadavulevu School.

Edited by Epineri Vula

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