National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad has praised Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka for his friendship and fairness. During the Party Convention in Sigatoka, Prof Prasad highlighted the Prime Minister’s consistent support during his personal challenges within the Government.
He stated, “This is leadership that bodes well for the future of both our Government and our country as we work to improve our Government and our country.” Prof Prasad expressed gratitude for the solidarity and the support of their political alliance, which he noted began long before their time in Government and will likely continue for an extended period.
Acknowledging the difficulties of working within a coalition, Prof Prasad mentioned that there are instances of disagreement among the three parties, sometimes made public. “We expect that. We are all in politics for different reasons. We represent different people with different priorities. But let me also tell you that even when there is public disagreement, we each respect that. We are all democrats. We do not hide our views from each other or the people. Like mature adults, we can differ with each other and do so with mutual respect,” he stated.
He emphasized the importance of respecting differing opinions within a coalition government, asserting that, “We do not always get our way. But if you are in politics, if you are in a Coalition Government, you must always respect your partners and their views. Respect builds trust. And after years of living under a government that trusted nobody, we are rebuilding trust in our country.”