Independent Member of Parliament Jone Usamate has stated that the deregistration of FijiFirst is a matter of the past, urging everyone to focus on moving forward. He described the claims regarding the party being under a “two-man rule” as mere assumptions.
During his appearance on The Lens@177, Usamate emphasized his role as a representative of all Fijians, guided by principles of equality, meritocracy, and diversity. He expressed that these values have long been important to him and are also shared by the rest of his Bloc of 16 in Parliament.
“What has happened has happened,” he remarked, asserting that as independent Members of Parliament, they are committed to fulfilling their responsibilities to the best of their abilities. Usamate believes that reflecting on past events does not benefit him or anyone else, and stresses the need to progress and contribute effectively as an Opposition.
He explained that the Government often presents issues in a certain light, making it the Opposition’s duty to offer alternative perspectives. Gathering public opinions and addressing concerns to ensure the Government is aware of them is also a critical responsibility for the Opposition.
Usamate shared that he entered as a Cabinet Minister in 2012 under military governance and subsequently joined FijiFirst. He expressed gratitude for the experiences and lessons learned during his tenure, which he believes have enhanced his current role in Parliament.
“I don’t want to go back to it. I just want to focus on what I need to do now and move ahead,” he concluded.