The Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) has revived its Indo-Fijian and General Voters wings as part of efforts to broaden its support base and build a more inclusive party ahead of the next General Election.
Speaking at the party’s annual general meeting on Saturday, party leader Aseri Radrodro said the party was committed to ensuring wider representation.
Mr Radrodro said the party had already interviewed 40 prospective candidates, with another 40 scheduled for interviews to ensure diversity in its line-up.
Among the party’s first batch of announced candidates, Paul Peters Hazelman said the General Voters wing would provide a platform for communities that had long felt underrepresented in Fiji’s political landscape.
“If you go through every party in the nation, they do not have a General Voters platform where their voice could be heard,” Mr Hazelman said.
He said the wing would give a stronger voice to communities that often felt overlooked, including, Asians, Chinese, Filipinos and Pacific Islanders living in Fiji while recognising the rights of iTaukei landowners.
“Many kailoma today who have iTaukei ties are left hanging and not represented.
“All we are asking is to have a voice on your platform and that this party, going into the next election, represents everyone and looks after everyone’s interests.”
Mr Hazelman, who had campaigned alongside Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka as a supporter of the People’s Alliance during the last general election, said he believed his political journey had taken a different direction.
“I believe my season with the party has changed, and the wind of the political climate has changed. We need to be a party that’s more inclusive,” Mr Rabuka said.
