Laisenia Qarase Jr expressed that his late father frequently discussed the harsh realities of life in prison. In an interview, the son of the former prime minister mentioned that they are keeping the families of Voreqe Bainimarama and Sitiveni Qiliho in their thoughts during this challenging period.
“In terms of Mr. Bainimarama and Mr. Qiliho being in prison, it is always a difficult time for any family when a family member is incarcerated,” Mr. Qarase Jr remarked. “But we pray for them during this difficult time.”
He recalled his father’s visit to America after being imprisoned, sharing insights on the struggles faced during incarceration. “Your rights are thrown out the window; waking up, sleeping, and eating are all controlled by someone else,” he said. “It is very difficult, so my prayers genuinely go out to them and their families during this difficult time.”
Mr. Qarase praised the Coalition Government for their bravery in contesting the last elections. “In my view, it was impossible to defeat the FijiFirst government because they had absolute power during their reign. But since they lost that election, I believe the hand of God intervened and heard the prayers of the people of Fiji.”
He gave special acknowledgment to The People’s Alliance party, SODELPA, and the National Federation Party for their efforts in bringing forth what he perceives as true democracy.