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Social Democratic Liberal Party provisional candidate Jovilisi Suveinakama is entering politics because he wants to restore the Fijian people’s belief in democracy.

“Leave aside the political party landscape and what each party has achieved during their term in office and what they can achieve in the future,” he said.

“We need to restore our peoples’ belief in democracy as the system of government in Fiji.

“Once that is determined then we have a framework with some certainty.”

Mr Suveinakama said without a vote for democracy, “the system of governance becomes ad hoc”. ”

Systems and processes will be built to maintain a ruling ideology that is territorial.

“They may get things done, but they will rob the inalienable right and freedom of its citizens. In the long run, we fail as an institution with its belief systems.

“A truly democratic system will ensure the true separation of powers rather than the self-serving interests of one over the other. ”

Democracy maintains the freedom of its people as supreme. Where the rights of the majority are sharpened by opposing ideologies.

“Democracy allows our people to have a dream and belief that it can be a reality — a government not robbing our people’s opportunity to get things done just to keep them in power.

“Democracy is having everyone equal to share the opportunities and challenges — to be excited about your views as an individual knowing that we will walk together no matter what until another people’s government is democratically elected.

“SODELPA is that government that will restore Fiji as a truly democratic nation.”

Mr Suveinakama formerly worked as a lawyer at the Howard’s Law Firm.

He worked in Tokelau for four years before returning to Fiji to set up a consultancy called Black Water.

He now practises with Toganivalu Legal in Suva. He has seven children.

A global network of indigenous businesses is now accessible to Fijian businesses through its Fiji Chapter, whose representatives were at the Suva Flea Market this week for a “talanoa session” and to register interested SMEs operating there.

Offering a platform to what it calls “the cultural economy”, the Fiji Chapter of the World Indigenous Business Network (FCWIBN) was established in 2019 and in 2022, became the first chapter from the Pacific region to be registered with the World Indigenous Business Forum (WIBF), its parent organisation.

“We are targeting different sectors of the economy, in terms of industry. Not just women – everybody. But this is specifically for women. We’re targeting this sector of the economy so they can participate in the development of the cultural economy of Fiji. So we’re trying to work on that with the women,” said FCWIBN general secretary John Tuiono.

“This is a business platform, not political. We are not against any ethnicity or racial lines. We are here for everybody. The national stance is you are here, you become a member, whether you are from India or China, if you are in Fiji, you can become a member of the Fiji Chapter.”

A group of business owners based at the Suva Flea Market attended the “talanoa session” with most curious to know how they would benefit from FCWIBN, which is charging an annual subscription fee of $20 per individual, $50 per co-operative and $500 for provincial companies and non-indigenous companies.

“The Fiji Chapter is linked to the WIBN. That’s what we bring,” said legal advisor Jovilisi Suveinakama.

“The WIBN comprise of over 80 countries. We’re talking about what you call a ‘cultural economy’, where indigenous businesses are able to link, trade, learn from each other and work together. So it’s about networking, learning and growing,” Mr Suveinakama said.

UNESCO recently described the global cultural and creative industries as being among the fastest growing sectors in the world. “With an estimated global worth of 4.3 trillion USD per year, the culture sector now accounts for 6.1 per cent of the global economy,” it said.

“They generate annual revenues of $US2250 billion ($F5.1t) and nearly 30 million jobs worldwide; employing more people aged 15 to 29 than any other sector. The cultural and creative industries have become essential for inclusive economic growth, reducing inequalities and achieving the goals set out in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.”

The Fiji Chapter held its inaugural annual conference in Suva in June, in which it managed to register more than 150 businesses, including the Fijian diaspora overseas, said Mr Tuiono, and there are plans to move out to the 14 provinces later in the year.

He said a digital marketing platform similar to Amazon was being created by the WIBN to connect chapters worldwide and once it is operational, it would link up Fijian businesses to what other countries have to offer and also be an avenue where they could sell their products.

“The beauty of this is it’s a globalised network. You’re not just in Fiji or have your thinking localised in one locality. You’re part of a huge global family with an equally huge marketing network, so that’s the plus, the benefit of this.”

Carolyn Ah Koy, a director of Kelton Investments, the landlord of the Suva Flea Market, said there are talks to use the Suva Flea Market as a business incubator.

“We’ve been talking with the gentlemen from WIBN and we are formulating ideas as to how best the Suva Flea Market can incubate and mentor the 200 businesses that are here within our precinct,” Ms Ah Koy said.

“Like we’ve done the Makete Show, we’ve done different things to see how best to be successful as small businesses in this precinct, because this is how we incubate.

You have to understand that MSMEs provide about 70 per cent of the employment in this country. That is a very important statistics for us as small business owners,” she added.

The WIBN is a global online community created by members of the WIBF to “connect, inspire, mobilise and support organisations and entrepreneurs in the sustainable development of indigenous businesses”.

According to its website, its “goal is to increase participation in the global economy by providing opportunities to broaden markets, improve access to business potential, increase indigenous economic benefits from major resource development and energy investments, and increase indigenous prosperity through economic growth”.

We are only too aware about the 2019 Pacific Islands Forum theme – Securing our future in the Pacific which builds on the 2017 and 2018 themes. Despite the connotations associated with this theme, the question we all ask is – What is the future of the Pacific? Recent election results in the region shows that change is coming – not necessarily in regard to the impact of a One China Policy choice but perhaps a policy or ideological change that is more effective and more meaningful for our Pacific people. While the Pacific governments have been very instrumental in the global and regional agenda; Pacific communities have either opted for a change in leadership or strategy. The bubble enjoyed currently by Governments will burst as communities take a more determined role in their countries’ future.

Australia and New Zealand’s Pacific policy of “Stepping-up the Pacific Engagement” and “Pacific Reset” both have had its challenges for the region. While we share the same region and have a deep history that builds our current relationships, we still “walk different lines”.  The diplomatic nature of these policies have become quite complex to manage as the traditional Pacific landscape get more tenants. The geopolitics does have the tendency to throw the Pacific into a springboard for a more fruitful endeavor. Fortunately or unfortunately the call for solidarity is left to choice. Decision making or the lack of it continues to hinder regional solidarity. Decisions on regional frameworks have become more complex and complicated to drive development and regional progress. This will eventually frustrate some Pacific island countries to explore other strategies to meet their goals.

The role of regional organizations to drive regional policy in accordance to leaders’ decisions and the region’s values has come to the foe of regional issues. That being said, the Pacific has been quite determined and have opted for sub-regional solution. The Sub-regional entities such as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG), and the Micronesian Presidents’ Summit (MPS) continue to forge “solutions closer to home”. These sub-regional entities engage sub-regional focus in strategies and relationships that are more determined. There is definitely a call for regional organizations to deliver effective outcomes for the region.

The impact of the United States of America and the European Union’s engagement in the region and more recently, relatively, China and India has been considered differently in the Pacific. The differences in views have shaped policies in the region. Addressing Climate Change and Economic Frameworks are the most influential issues when it comes to the region’s engagement and relationships. While as much as we try and hint common values and principles to drive these engagements the intention of policy makers are too obvious for our communities to readily commit to. As national elections continue to feature in our region, it is clear that our Governments will have to drive a clearer stake in the sand. Unfortunately, without values, the issues that will threaten our solidarity as a region are quite compelling. 

Change is definitely coming to the Pacific!

Ulu o Tokelau giving evidence at the High Court in Wellington, NZ

Tokelau is a New Zealand colony or territory (Tokelau Act 1948). The New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs appoints an Administrator with responsibility for the administration of the executive government of Tokelau (Administration Regulation 1993). Consistent with Tokelau’s intention in the 1980s to progress towards self-determination, New Zealand has substantially delegated powers of the Administrator to Tokelau in support of progress towards self-governance. New Zealand’s relationship with its territory has been likened as a “beacon of hope” by the United Nation’s Decolonization Committee (C-24) for other approximately 16 administering power-colony relationship currently under the C-24 list.

In October and November 2016, two helicopters were purchased at USD$2.38m by the Tokelau Administration from the increased Fisheries revenue of the territory for the purposes of implementing agreed local strategic development priorities. In March 2017, a New Zealand TV One news highlighted this purchase as not supported by New Zealand taxpayers. New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (NZMFAT) seized this as an opportunity to redraw the management of the increasing territory’s Fisheries revenue within its constitutional annual budgetary allocation.[1] For the territory, it was an opportunity to re-map its geopolitical settings. The already Inter-atoll rivalry and the exploitation of traditional authority provided the impetus for the surgical witch-hunt. Blindly and without careful thought towards the bigger self-determination picture the political landscape became internally toxic and self-destructive towards the end game.

Two of the most senior government officials were identified as scape-goats became seemingly the amicable solution to what was becoming a politicized situation. The Government’s Chief Policy Advisor for 10 years (2007-2017) – Jovilisi Suveinakama and the Chief Finance Advisor – Heto Puka were busy putting together the draft National Budget for the 2017/18 Financial year following a steady decade of growth through the implementation of the Tokelau National Strategic Plan 2010-2015, refer to graph below, in their Office in Apia, Samoa and much too busy to suspect the “Easter Plot”.

On 11 April 2017, both Tokelau and NZMFAT agreed to suspend and investigate the two senior government officials for unauthorized purchase of the helicopters under the employment rules. On Thursday 13 April 2017 just a day before Easter Friday, Mr. Suveinakama and Mr. Puka were handed their suspension letters. The suspensions meant that both NZMFAT Officials and Tokelau Ministers would abandon the Commission of Inquiry directed and commissioned by Tokelau’s Parliament (General Fono) and turned it towards an employment case noting that neither New Zealand (Administering Power) and Samoa (Place of Employment) employment laws would apply. The situation and investigation became toxic instantly.

An investigation term of reference (TOR) was drawn up which together with the claims for unauthorized purchase of helicopters named the Two Senior Officials for giving unprofessional advice for the purchase of a prime piece of land next to the main wharf in Samoa for WST$10m. The land currently sits the new Tokelau Administration’s national office and saves the government approximately WST$1m every year in cartage fee and fuel, and the helicopters had been resold with the proceeds absorbed into recurrent budget expenditure appropriations instead of development priority goals.

With the legal advice from Tokelau’s lawyer to escape the Samoa Employment laws, the two officials were summoned to travel from Samoa which is their place of employment to Atafu, Tokelau approximately 500km to an artificial islet called Lotomau for the ‘employment investigations’.

Both senior officials advised the Investigator to have the interview in Apia, Samoa where they worked and accessible to their lawyers – this was refused. At the end the pair chose not to go to Atafu, Tokelau as summoned by the Investigator. Unfortunately, as a result, the Tokelau Ministers made further punitive interventions with the investigation where salaries for the duo were withdrawn, and in addition they were barred from leaving the country despite both officials being non-citizens of Samoa and had no means of financial support. Five months later, without a face-to-face interview, the Investigator submitted a Report to the Tokelau Ministers, as Employers of the two senior officials, with a termination recommendation.

On 24th November 2017, both Mr. Suveinakama and Mr. Puka were terminated after more than 2 decades as combined years of service to the Government of Tokelau as Chief Policy Advisor and Chief Finance Advisor respectively. The pair sued Tokelau’s government and leaders with the view that Tokelau leaders as public office holders had to exercise their powers transparently and in line with the rules of natural justice. In 2019 the High Court[2] of New Zealand in Wellington sitting as Tokelau’s High Court ruled their dismissals were lawful, but a previous move to suspend them without pay was illegal. Questions were asked as to how the dismissal could be lawful when the Court acknowledged that a significant component of the whole process was illegal. The decision of the High Court is currently being appealed following unsuccessful attempts to resolve the matter with the NZ Minister of Foreign Affairs – Nanaia Mahuta in November and December 2020. Despite all, the two senior officials will certainly not give up the search for the “beacon of hope”. –END-

[2] Suveinakama v Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau [2018] NZHC 1787.

[1] NZ Annual Constitutional support was NZ$12m and Fisheries (EEZ) Revenue was NZ$24.5m as at June 2017.