Proposed People’s Star Network party gives youth role in writing manifesto

Young people are being invited to help write the proposed People’s Star Network party’s manifesto, with the party saying youth should shape policy rather than simply be targeted for votes.

Acting general secretary Eliki Dakuitoga said the approach was not about branding the proposed party as another youth party, but giving young people a direct role in determining what it would stand for.

Mr Dakuitoga was on Koronivia Road in Nausori yesterday collecting signatures for the proposed party.

He said its approach centred on bringing the experience of older generations together with the ideas and perspectives of younger Fijians.

“The key difference is that we are the middle generation and our job is to bridge the old and the new, not have them fight each other,” Mr Dakuitoga said.

He said political discussions often created the impression that Fiji had to choose between an older generation carrying experience and a younger generation demanding change.

“For our party we believe Fiji needs both,” he said.

“The older generation carries wisdom, vanua, culture, experience, mistakes, lessons and knowledge that we should not just throw away.

“The younger generation is coming with technology, new thinking, new ways of doing business, new ways of communicating and a completely different view of the world.”

He questioned why the two generations should be pitted against each other.

“Our job in the middle is to build the bridge,” he said.

Youth asked to shape policy

Mr Dakuitoga said that approach was influencing the development of the proposed party’s manifesto.

Youth leaders, including representatives involved with Youth Assembly Fiji and Provincial Youth Councils, have been invited to develop their own youth submission for consideration in the manifesto.

Instead of presenting young people with a completed youth policy and asking for their views, Mr Dakuitoga said they were being asked to identify priorities based on their own experiences.

“We have basically told them that here is your space and tell us what you think should be in this manifesto,” he said.

He said there was an important distinction between consulting young people after policies had been written and allowing them to influence those policies while they were still being developed.

Professionals and people with technical experience are also working on policy development for the proposed party.

However, Mr Dakuitoga said professional qualifications could never replace the knowledge gained from living through a problem.

Education among focus areas

Education is one area where the proposed party expects youth submissions to play an important role.

Discussions have already begun around financial literacy, entrepreneurship, practical skills and technology.

The proposed party is also considering whether Fiji’s education system should prepare children not only to seek jobs, but also to create employment and opportunities.