A politician who was announced in the George Speight illegal cabinet in 2000 and served time for that in prison, Ratu Peceli Rinakama and some former civil servants are part of the 11 provisional candidates announced for The People’s Alliance today.
Rinakama was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment in 2004 and got an early release in December 2005 for good behaviour.
Party Leader Sitiveni Rabuka says Rinakama was a supporter, but he has served his time.
While making the announcement, People’s Alliance General Secretary, Sakiasi Ditoka says Rinakama first entered politics in 1993 under the Fijian Association political banner, and is now President of the Naitasiri branch of The People’s Alliance.
Ditoka says he is outspoken in the fields that are close to his heart: provincial, indigenous and community development, sports and education.
He is a retired secondary school principal.
Also announced are Climate Policy and Finance Specialist, Noa Dabe Seru who has been heavily involved in the development of his village, district, island and province of Lau.
Seru began his career as a science teacher and holds a Master's Degree in Development Studies from the University of Queensland.
Former chair of Rabi Island Council, Iakoba Jacob Karutake who was a senior official in the office of the Prime Minister until he resigned to apply for a ticket with The People’s Alliance, has also been announced as a provisional candidate.
Others announced are lawyer Mereoni Duaibe, Tailevu businessman Rajendra Prasad, the party’s Deputy General Secretary, former military officer and civil servant who worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence Sila Balawa, former Permanent Secretary for Lands Tevita Boseiwaqa, former Director of Livestock with the Ministry of Agriculture Tomasi Tunabuna, former Principal Apisalome Vunisa, Manager of Uluda Holdings Limited, the business arm of the chiefs and people of Ra province Napolioni Nasara and Financial Analyst, licensed stock broker, and investment adviser Semi Leawere.
This takes to 35 the total number of provisional candidates revealed so far by The People’s Alliance.
Ditoka says they have 20 more candidates to announce, since they will have the full 55-candidate line-up to contest the general elections.
He says more women will also be announced in the next batch of provisional candidates.
Ditoka also says The People’s Alliance team is certainly not going to be your ‘Lave Liga Squad,’ needed in parliament only for voting numbers.
