I was labelled a Snake; PM
“Personally, I am immune to personal insults. Jai Ram Reddy and I, during my tenure as Prime Minister from 1992 to 1999, were subjected to these kinds of insults.
Monday 14 October 2024 | 15:00
National Federation Party president Parmod Chand, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad at the National Federation Party’s convention at Nadroga Sangam School, in Malaqereqere, Nadroga on October 12, 2024. Photo: Waisea Nasokia
I was labelled a snake and accused of many things and the use of race cards was prevalent in the lead-up to the 2022 General Election, says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
He said this yesterday reflecting on the Coalition Government’s political journey for the past two years.
“I was demonised, accused of many things, and labelled a snake,” Mr Rabuka said.
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“Personally, I am immune to personal insults. Jai Ram Reddy and I, during my tenure as Prime Minister from 1992 to 1999, were subjected to these kinds of insults.
“In 2018 and 2022, Professor Biman Prasad and I faced the same level of gutter politics while neither of us was personally affected. It instilled fear into the minds of the electorate.
“I could sense this fear among the Indo-Fijian electorate. Perhaps I should introduce myself again—I am Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, whose favourite dish is dhal and rice.”
Mr Rabuka said Mr Prasad would not have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a post-election coalition government if both he and the NFP didn’t trust him.
“I want to, once and for all, put an end to fear and doubts about my sincerity as a national leader, particularly to the Indo-Fijian community,” he said.
“Trust me when I say we are rebuilding Fiji’s future together, united as a three-party coalition government.
“By the time the People’s Coalition Government heads to the next election, we will have a very different electoral landscape compared to what we have endured in the past.”
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