THE National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad says being part of a Coalition Government is not always easy, but their relationship with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka remained strong.
Prof Prasad said that while the NFP remained committed to the Coalition with The People’s Alliance, he said, governing as a group came with challenges.
“We are five members in this Coalition and being part of a Coalition is not always easy,” he said.
While speaking at the national convention at the Labasa Civic Centre yesterday, he said sometimes decisions must be accepted even if we personally disagree with them.
“It requires compromise but that is how democracy works. In a coalition, we must respect majority decisions.”
He said the NFP did not join the Coalition for political power, but to restore democratic principles that had been undermined under the previous administration.
“We joined because we shared a commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights – values that had been taken from the people under the previous government. And we believed we could help unite the country.”
He said the perception that NFP was still an Indo-Fijian party, was wrong.
“It is true that in the early days, most of our support came from that community. But today, we are a truly multiracial party. We could not have entered Parliament or joined the Government without strong support from our iTaukei brothers and sisters.”
He said their relationship with The People’s Alliance leader and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka was strong.
“We are in constant communication.”
He added that NFP ministers held some of the most important portfolios in Government and that the party’s contributions were valued.
“Our parliamentarians lead some of the most important and critical ministries in Government. We are respected within the Government, and our voices are heard. And we in the NFP show that same respect in return.”
He said mutual respect was at the heart of the Coalition Government.
