Eloni Dike elected as FLP President

Ba businessman, Eloni Dike has been elected as Fiji Labour Party’s new President.

49-year-old Dike is the Director of Vanua Ko Ba Holdings, a company he founded for the qoliqoli owners of the Ba District.

It is engaged in dredging and gravel extraction works.

Dike says he feels honoured to be elected president of a party he had always admired, a party known for standing up for people’s rights and one that had always promoted the interests of the indigenous community.

Trade unionist, Sai Vulawalu was elected one of the party’s four Vice Presidents.

Monica Raghwan, Sachida Sharma and Surendra Lal have returned as vice presidents.

Three new members were elected to Fiji Labour Party’s Management Board. They are Abdul Jamal from Nasinu, Rohit Chand from Ba and Vyas Deo Sharma from Lautoka.

Taina Rokotabua remains assistant secretary-general with Mahendra Chaudhry as secretary-general.

Karam Bidesi continues as national treasurer.

While speaking at the Party’s annual delegates conference in Lautoka today, FLP Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry says the party is receiving good grassroot support and is ready to go into elections.

Chaudhry says voters must exercise care and wisdom in their choice of the next government.

Chaudhry says it must not be made on the basis of ethnicity or promises made by political party leaders.

The former Prime Minister says voters should judge parties by their record in governance if they have one and if in the opposition, how effective are or were they not only on the floor of Parliament but more importantly in interacting with the people at the grassroots.

Chaudhry says people have paid a heavy price at the hands of wayward governments and voters must not be taken in by election gimmicks.

When questioned about reports that there was a low turnout at the conference at Tilak High School, Chaudhry says around 300 people attended the event and it is a good turnout for a Saturday morning meeting.

Chaudhry says he has seen some social media posts critical of the FLP.