Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of renowned academic and politician, Professor Tupeni Baba, describing him as a man of decency, goodwill, humility, and intelligence.
Prof Prasad, who also leads the National Federation Party (NFP), highlighted that Prof Baba consistently rose to challenges and acted ethically to uphold unity and national interests.
“Professor Baba was not only a political ally but also a dear academic colleague from the University of the South Pacific,” said the Deputy PM. “He was someone I could always rely upon to bring reason and grace to meetings, even though we were from different faculties.”
Prof Baba, a founder member of the Fiji Labour Party (FLP), maintained a respectful relationship with the NFP and its leadership despite their political differences. He played a pivotal role in the short-lived NFP/FLP Coalition Government of Dr Timoci Bavadra and remained a leading figure until the coalition broke in late 1991 over ideological differences.
“Of course, the rest is history. The unanimous passage of the 1997 Constitution in the House of Representatives and Senate was the result of the honest and hard work of Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka, then NFP and Opposition Leader Justice Jai Ram Reddy, and the Reeves Commission,” said Prof Prasad.
Prof Baba’s support for reconciliation, tolerance, unity, and goodwill, exemplified by the passage of the new Constitution, was noteworthy. He condemned efforts to undermine the process and criticized his party leader for traveling to India to block Fiji’s re-admission into the Commonwealth.