Amid growing speculation over cracks within the Coalition Government, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has made a decisive move to calm the waters — declaring he will not abandon the coalition agreement without the endorsement of his party.
In a firm statement, Mr Rabuka reminded Fijians that the tripartite arrangement was built on collective consensus, not personal impulse.
His comments came as he publicly accepted an apology from SODELPA general secretary Viliame Takayawa, calling it a powerful gesture of reconciliation.
“I will not unilaterally sever the coalition agreement as it was the product of a Tripartite Negotiations, which I as party leader of one of the coalition cannot do without a collective decision of my party,” Mr Rabuka said.
The Prime Minister’s remarks follow his public acceptance of an apology from SODELPA general secretary Viliame Takayawa, in what he described as a timely gesture for a country still healing from decades of political division.
“I accept Mr Takayawa’s personal apology and his apology as general secretary of SODELPA and also very much appreciate his good wishes for all mothers in Fiji on Mother’s Day Sunday”
With the country marking Girmit Day today and preparing for the upcoming Ratu Sukuna Day public holiday, Mr Rabuka said the focus must remain on unity.
“Fiji is too small a nation to be saying unkind words about people, so we need to focus more on things that unite us rather than those that threaten our reunifications after our political turmoil over the past four decades.”
On a personal note, the Prime Minister revealed his shared ancestry with Mr Takayawa, pointing to their maternal roots in Tailevu.
“Mr Takayawa may not be aware that his maternal roots in Naila, Dravo, Tailevu are very close to my late mother’s roots in Dravo, Tailevu, home of DPM Manoa Kamikamica,” he said.
Mr Rabuka said the apology — and his acceptance of it, served as a reminder of what the country must strive for as it commemorates its past and looks to the future.
“His apologies and my acceptance on behalf of the governing coalition during this time of National Truth and Reconciliation add reminders for us all as Fijians, celebrating Girmit Day Holiday and looking forward to the national holiday of Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna Day of the need to promote unity and harmonious relations at home as we pursue the Concept of Pacific as the Ocean of Peace to the World.”
