Ni sa bula vinaka my dear fellow citizens of our beloved Fiji. To begin our veitalanoa, allow me to begin with the school motto of my beloved Suva Methodist Boys’ School, now re-named Suva Methodist Primary School, Toorak, Suva City. ” Enter to learn: Go forth to serve.”
May I remind us again in this instance of our beloved Jesus Christ’s profound Statement:
“For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45.
I HAD served reasonably well as a civil servant for 30 years, beginning on February 10, 1969 as an Assistant Town Planner in the Department of Lands, Mines and Mineral Resources. I completed my 30 years of service as the permanent secretary for Tourism, Transport and Civil Aviation on December 31, 1998.
I also served in other organisations including rugby and volleyball. The most challenging ones were as interim Minister for Health, full Minister for Health and later Minister for Tourism, Transport and Civil Aviation.
In my entire service to our beloved Fiji, I climbed my Mountain Everest when 20 years ago todate, Monday, June 5, 2006, I was elected by all members of the Fiji House of Representatives to be the Speaker of the House. I then was sworn in accordingly. I am still in that honourable position. My main and single remaining objective now is to fulfil the Fiji Court of Appeal decision made public on Thursday, April 9, 2009.
I noted very well the special Government Gazette issued by President Ratu J. I. Uluivuda on Good Friday, April 10, 2009. On this unfortunate action, going against the renowned leadership principles of justice and integrity, how can the President contradict himself from what he said in his concluding remark on the decision on the Independent Commission of Inquiry into allegations against the Fiji Military Forces Commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, issued on Friday, July 16, 2004.
This is the President’s concluding remarks in that special Gazette:
“The President emphasized that the rule of law is the cornerstone of any civil society.
“The law applies to all, no individual or organisation is above it, including the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and other institutions of State. He stressed that in its primary responsibility for ensuring national security, the Army must at all times support and respect the Constitution.
“The President urges everyone to come together and focus on the future for the benefit of Fiji.”
Yes, the full implementation of the Fiji Court of Appeal decision which was made public on Thursday, April 9, 2009.
n PITA NACUVA is a Fijian politician and former Fiji rugby union international. He served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from June to December 2006, when a military coup deposed the government and resulted in the dissolution of Parliament. The views expressed herein are his own.
