Fiji has lost a man of decency, goodwill, humility and intelligence – Prof. Prasad

Fiji has lost a man of decency, goodwill, humility and intelligence following the death of renowned academic and politician, Professor Tupeni Baba.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says Professor Baba, like his many other colleagues and leaders, faced what many considered at that time insurmountable challenges during their political journey.

The NFP leader says each time Professor Baba rose to the challenge and did what he thought was ethically correct to ensure the protection of unity and national interest.

He says Professor Baba was not only a political comrade, but a dear academic colleague from the University of the South Pacific.

Professor Prasad says he was someone that he could always depend upon to find reason and grace at meetings even though they were from different faculties.

He says while Professor Baba was a founder member of the Fiji Labour Party, he never displayed bitterness and acrimony towards the NFP and its leadership.

Professor Prasad says he was a key member of the short-lived NFP/FLP Coalition Government of Dr Timoci Bavadra.

He says Professor Baba remained a leading figure of the NFP/FLP coalition until the coalition broke in late 1991 due to ideological differences on whether to contest or boycott the May 1992 elections held under the 1990 Constitution.

He says the unanimous passage of the 1997 Constitution in the House of Representatives and Senate was the fruition of the honesty and hard work of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, then NFP and Opposition Leader Justice Jai Ram Reddy and the Reeves Commission.

The Deputy Prime Minister says Professor Baba’s support for reconciliation, tolerance, unity and goodwill generated by the passage of the new Constitution and his condemnation of efforts by those trying to undermine the process is best illustrated when he slated his party leader for going to India to block Fiji’s re-admission into the Commonwealth.

He says on 11th September 1997, The Fiji Times reported on its front page that Professor Baba had said his party leader’s utterances wasn’t assisting the reconciliation process and his leader’s comments would confuse, cloud and aggravate the goodwill already established between the various communities.

Professor Prasad says this shows Professor Baba did not hesitate to reject deviousness, arrogance and dictatorship even if it meant slating his own party leader.

He says Professor Baba, who also served as Deputy Prime Minister for a year until the Government was deposed in May 2000, exemplified a dignified, humble, intelligent and a distinct stoic personality as a fellow politician.

The Deputy Prime Minister says for him, this particularly shone through in September 2016 when they were locked up in a cell at Totogo Police Station, together with trade unionist Attar Singh, after they had participated at a public forum discussing the 2013 Constitution.

He says it was moments like that, away from the flashing media lights, when they whiled the hours away in the cell, joking, talking and reflecting on the many issues plaguing our beloved Fiji.

He has conveyed their deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to FNU Vice Chancellor and Professor Baba’s widow Professor Unaisi Nabobo Baba and the family.