Editorial: Kudos to Alliance For Calling a Spade, a Spade

A tiger never changes its stripes.

Revelations of a high-profile illicit affair riddled with drug-related allegations has finally rocked the country.

And the Peoples Alliance party, or PA as they fashion themselves, has much to do with the motion.

But its hats off to the Alliance for now, for calling a spade exactly what it is, a spade.

For ejecting Lynda Tabuya from her position as deputy party leader, and the near likelihood that she may lose her seat in Cabinet as Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, the party could expect a legal redress, given that evidence in such allegations are often difficult to prove.

Difficult, unless someone implicated alongside her, takes the stand to testify to the very truth that the Alliance asserts herein.

The point though, according to the Alliance, was the compelling evidence provided to its investigative team, which suggested that Ms Tabuya lied to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka about the allegations.

By virtue of that very lie, Mr Rabuka, unwittingly and perhaps under media pressure, spread the lie to the country at large.

Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya. Photo: Leon Lord

It followed the counsel of in-house team who had initially looked into the claims. Cabinet failed to find her guilty the first time.

What’s to say they won’t again?

The unravelling this time by at least two women of the Alliance - one of course a contender for the last election - questions the fabric of initial investigation by members that included Cabinet representatives.

It will be Mr Rabuka’s undoing if he is to pardon her with a warning, to let her keep her seat at the Cabinet table.

This, as a means to keep ones enemies closer, offers no concrete resolve to the matter at hand, because the people will then ask, how many other lies has she told the people through their leader.

She duped the country via machinations and utterances that some had hoped would never see the light of day.

For all her glory and goodwill, the lovely lady of Kadavu sold herself short for what appeared to be a face saving gimmick.

And it has cost her the party’s reputation.

However, recognition must now be accorded to her party for finally stepping up to take a telescopic look into what had threatened the very fabric of at least one marriage.

Credit is also owed to the Alliance party’s investigative team for illuminating its followers with the outcome of an inquiry into a scandalous affair.

Ms Tabuya had her chance to fess up to the truth when the heat was on, last year.

It seemed the most naturally thing to do at the time and would have won her tremendous public support. Instead, she lied straight-faced even to the media.

Meanwhile, another trend has emerged.

It seems each time a matter of international interest hits the headlines, Mr Rabuka flies off for a visit abroad.

This too must stop if the Alliance is to maintain its credibility in public standing.

That is, unless, he makes known the outcome of his decision to clean his backyard, while on the go.

Mr Rabuka must now set a precedence for members of his entire Cabinet.

Without it, his house of cards threatens to fall, as more allegations surface over similar natured rendezvous involving other party members.

To save the remaining few who could be implicated, he must review and strengthen the framework of codes that govern the personal and private conduct of Cabinet ministers.

The whole fiasco must serve as a warning to the remaining public office holders to shape up or ship out.

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