Siromi Turaga, the Minister for Justice, applauded his political party, The People’s Alliance, for its dedication to serving the community. Speaking to residents of Nabuna in Cawa, Koro, he highlighted the party’s role in driving change.
Cawa district is comprised of the villages of Cavaga, Tavua, Nabasovi, Kade, Nabuna, and Vatulele. Turaga remarked, “The People’s Alliance is crucial because, although fairly new, it has initiated the change we desired and envisioned.” He emphasized that this change has given people the freedom that is not only God-given but also safeguarded by the 2013 Constitution.
Turaga assured the villagers of their voices being heard. He reflected on the lead-up to the 2022 elections, expressing his gratitude for the support he received. “Thank you to the district of Cawa for standing by your decision to choose me, a representative from Kubuna-i-wai who will safeguard Lomaiviti,” he stated.
On Friday, the party is set to hold its Annual General Meeting. Turaga also announced that next month, the Minister for Agriculture will visit Koro, which is noted for its fertile land. He encouraged the community to participate in an upcoming agriculture show designed to benefit farmers.
Furthermore, he criticized the deregistered FijiFirst party for allegedly putting its own interests ahead of the populace’s needs. “For 16 years, the iTaukei community was overlooked, and civil servants have recognized the difference and progress they had long awaited,” he mentioned.
According to Turaga, the Ministry of Justice staff, who had previously rarely engaged with the public, are now reaching out to various provinces. He asserted, “We are prioritizing the people’s needs, which is why we are delivering services directly to them.”
He also noted ongoing investigations into the prior administration, pointing out challenges faced during this process. “There were 70 cases referred to FICAC from the Housing Authority regarding fund mismanagement, but only one case has gone to court,” he explained.
In related news, Turaga and several other ministers are being investigated by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) under the former acting commissioner Francis Pulewai, who recently stepped down. Barbara Malimali has since taken over as the new commissioner and indicated a shift in the commission’s approach moving forward.