FIJI: VIEWPOINT

Dr Satish Chand

NOVEMBER 2009

I was in Suva city on Satur-day the 25th of July and saw firsthand the White T-shirt Brigade picking and packing trash on the foreshores.
The enthusiasm in this crowd provides hope for Fiji. The youth, ethnic mix, enthusiasm, and energy in this crowd would overwhelm any obstacle that could have been placed in their path.
Can we harness this same energy for nation building?
Fiji is struggling on several fronts. The long promised economic recovery remains to eventuate. The political battles between the various factions continue. Many of the old politics and politicians remain a force. It is time to draw in the new crop of leaders for nation-building.
Many of our leaders of the past have served their people poorly. I know of several aspirants for seats in parliament having campaigned exclusively on ethnic votes.
They are at least partly responsible for a deeply fractured community that we now haves. I know them as intelligent people. They see politics as a game.
I know of families who get divided due to the varying political affiliation of the members. Elections and national politics is not a game to them!
It is time the old leaders gave way to the new brigade. Many of the people engaged in the clean up of the foreshores are ready to take on the national challenges; those of the economy and politics.
We can rely on their youth to rejuvenating the economy and reviving race relations to creating a multiracial Fiji. And it is them who will pave the way to progress for Fiji and the island region more broadly.
My morning with the White-Brigade on the foreshores of Suva gives hope for Fiji. And if they get it wrong, then it is them who will pay the price for their failures.
Many of the old guard in Fiji remain active in all aspects of life. Some made a substantial contribution to nation-building thus deserve a break. Others have been active spoilers; and, the community deserves a break from them.
Some of the latter are extremely bitter about the losses they have faced—understandable and only human—but not a reason for them to hang on!
Suva is a beautiful city worthy of care, cleaning, and rejuvenation. Fiji is even more deserving of the above.
The old Parliament buildings could do with a facelift. Albert Park next door is overdue for some maintenance.
The next step is in reviving the economy and politics in the nation as a whole. And let us start with the assets that Fiji has. Not much point crying over spilt milk.
A community spirit that
remains live and well
The clean-up campaign revealed a community spirit that is live and well. The few pictures I took and the time I spent talking to a few of the participants on the foreshores of Suva was ample evidence of the above.
Collecting trash was tall and short; fat and thin; and, people of all walks of life. The group I photographed were students from the University of Fiji. Were they Indians, Fijians, Others—who cared? All that mattered was getting the trash out—and we have tons of these; much in sight and more not.
Use the community capital
for community building
The clean-up campaign in Suva shows the many, albeit seldom acknowledged, assets that all communities possess. It is time to draw this capital for nation-building.
The short campaign demonstrated that tons of trash can be disposed within hours. This same community capital can be mobilised for the larger challenges contemporary Fiji is facing.
The long queue of garbage bags was filled and put on the roadside within a matter of ours. The Prime Minister may want to seek assistance of the youth of Fiji in showing the way ahead. They have my vote, not that it matters!