Siromi Turaga, the Minister for Justice, commended his political party, The People’s Alliance, highlighting its dedication to serving the community. Addressing villagers in Nabuna, located in the district of Cawa, Koro, Turaga acknowledged the party’s role in fostering meaningful change.
Cawa district encompasses several villages, including Cavaga, Tavua, Nabasovi, Kade, Nabuna, and Vatulele. “The People’s Alliance is a vital party that, despite its relatively young age, has initiated the change we aspired to achieve,” Turaga stated. He emphasized the importance of the freedom granted to citizens, which he noted is protected under the 2013 Constitution.
He reassured the community that their voices will always be heard, referencing a campaign trip to Lomaiviti before the 2022 election that he undertook with a small team. He expressed gratitude to the district for its unwavering support and loyalty. “Thank you to the district of Cawa for standing by your decision to elect me, a representative from Kubuna-i-wai, committed to safeguarding Lomaiviti,” he remarked.
Turaga mentioned that The People’s Alliance would hold its Annual General Meeting on Friday and that the Minister for Agriculture would visit Koro next month, appreciating the attention being given to the fertile land in the area. He encouraged the community to take advantage of an upcoming agriculture show aimed at assisting farmers.
In his speech, he criticized the previously registered FijiFirst party for allegedly prioritizing its own interests over those of the populace, citing that for 16 years, the iTaukei people were overlooked. He noted that civil servants have observed significant changes, with the Ministry of Justice staff becoming more active and visiting various provinces.
“We are focused on the people, which is why we are delivering services directly to them. We are also investigating the previous government and facing numerous challenges,” Turaga added. He mentioned that 70 cases from the Housing Authority regarding misuse of funds were referred to FICAC, but only one case has progressed to court.
Additionally, Mr. Turaga and other ministers are under investigation by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) following the resignation of former acting commissioner Francis Pulewai last week. Barbara Malimali has now been appointed as the new commissioner and confirmed that there’s a shift in leadership regarding the ongoing inquiries.