Siromi Turaga, the Minister for Justice, commended his political party, The People’s Alliance, for its dedication to serving the community. During his address to the villagers of Nabuna in Cawa, Koro, he remarked that the party has been a significant force for change in the region.
Cawa district comprises the villages of Cavaga, Tavua, Nabasovi, Kade, Nabuna, and Vatulele. Turaga emphasized the importance of The People’s Alliance, describing it as a relatively young party that has delivered the transformative changes the people desired.
“The People’s Alliance is crucial because it has brought the change we hoped for,” Turaga stated, highlighting that such changes have enabled people to enjoy the freedoms that are protected by the 2013 Constitution. He affirmed the party’s commitment to listening to the voices of the people, recalling a past visit to Lomaiviti with a small team ahead of the 2022 election, for which he expressed his gratitude.
He thanked the Cawa district for their unwavering support in selecting him as their representative, stressing his commitment to safeguarding the interests of Lomaiviti.
Looking ahead, he mentioned that the party would hold its Annual General Meeting on Friday and announced the upcoming visit of the Minister for Agriculture to Koro next month, appreciating the attention on the area’s fertile land. He encouraged local farmers to take advantage of an agriculture show planned for next month that aims to assist them.
Additionally, Turaga criticized the now-deregistered FijiFirst party for allegedly prioritizing its own agenda over the needs of the public. He highlighted a historical neglect of the iTaukei community and noted positive changes within the civil service since his party came to power.
He indicated that the Ministry of Justice, which previously had limited outreach, has now expanded its presence across many provinces. Turaga reiterated his administration’s focus on direct service delivery to the people and mentioned ongoing investigations into the previous government, citing challenges faced in this process.
He revealed that there were 70 cases referred to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) from the Housing Authority concerning misuse of funds, although only one case has reached court thus far.
In related news, Turaga and other ministers are currently under investigation by FICAC, following the resignation of the former acting commissioner, Francis Pulewai. Barbara Malimali has taken over the role and indicated a fresh start for the commission.