Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has spoken out about the harsh accusations and racial undertones he faced leading up to the 2022 General Election. Reflecting on the Coalition Government’s political journey over the past two years, Rabuka mentioned that he was vilified and labeled a snake during this time.
He stated that personal insults do not affect him, recalling how he and Jai Ram Reddy were subjected to similar attacks during his first term as Prime Minister from 1992 to 1999. Rabuka noted that both he and Professor Biman Prasad encountered the same level of gutter politics during the 2018 and 2022 elections, which instilled fear in the electorate but did not personally impact them.
Rabuka expressed his awareness of this fear among the Indo-Fijian community and remarked, “Perhaps I should introduce myself again—I am Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, whose favourite dish is dhal and rice.” He emphasized that Prasad would not have agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding for a post-election coalition if there was no trust between them.
“I want to, once and for all, put an end to fear and doubts about my sincerity as a national leader, particularly to the Indo-Fijian community,” Rabuka asserted. He urged the community to trust his commitment to rebuilding Fiji’s future as part of a united three-party coalition government. Looking ahead to the next election, he predicted a significantly altered electoral landscape compared to past experiences.