Born Fijian, and Proud.

Bula kece,

Today is a day I'm bursting with pride at my heritage.

Things like the win in Adelaide makes me proud. Or stories of the bravery of Labalaba, or the friendliness of those of us that impress the tourist visitors so much!!!! It's when you hear stories of things like that, that you remember why we hold this land, it's people and it's culture and traditions so dear.

The latest thing to warm this heart, however is completely out of left field. So far out that it fell like a thunderbolt out of the stratosphere.

The Great Council of Chiefs rejected the Presidential nominee of Rt. Epeli Nailatikau for Vice President.

Say ahhh???

The Great Council of Chiefs rejected the Presidential nominee of Rt. Epeli Nailatikau for Vice President.

That came as a complete suprise to almost everyone. Even the IG Fijian Affairs Minister was dumbfound, and lost for words. And who wouldn't? It's like finding out that the old dog does bite!!! With a vengence!!!

In revenge, the other Epeli threatened to remove "selected" GCC members. Hey Rt. Epeli, why don't you try to make them run at QEB? That's right, you can't!!! As you are too scared of the repecussions that course of action would bring.

The Chiefs have spoken.

This was after the entry of Adi Samanunu Cakobau, Ro Teimumu Kepa and Rt. Naiqama Lalabalavu were denied entry into the meeting. Well, an attempt was made to deny them entry. In the case of Ro Teimumu, it failed as the Burebasaga member Ro Elenoa Gonelevu stepped aside to allow the Marama Roko Tui Dreketi to attend in her place.

The three highest ranking chiefs in Fiji, being shut out on a technicality. Bainimarama/Chaudry/Khaiyum etc...we Fijians will not forget this. And remember, where will you run to when this is all over? The end is coming very fast.

Two confederacies, Kubuna and Burebasaga rejected the nominee. With Rt. Joni Madraiwiwi as a High Chief of Kubuna, Adi Samanunu as the eldest of the Cakobau siblings ( the paramount chief's position is still up for grabs) and Ro Teimumu Kepa leading Burebasaga, all being part of the "clean-up" campaign, and the "wrong" part at that, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the nominee the IG/RFMF were trying to pass through would be met with resistance.

Tovata is a different story. While the media reports that they accepted the nominee, it must be remembered that their paramount chief the Tui Cakau was not allowed to attend the meeting, nor was he present. While the Mara family would wield some power in that matanitu, readers of this post would need to be reminded that in the traditional scheme of things, the Tui Nayau was the least of the 4 High Chiefs of Tovata. Rt. Mara was repected, not so much for his position as for his personal achievements and accomplishments, something his offspring seem to forget. This lesson will be learnt, with much shedding of tears in days to come. Already the respect once accorded to Rt. Mara is now slowly dissolving.

Looking at it from another angle, when the junta revoked the nominees of the GCC, the GCC stated that it recognised the deposed government as the legal government of Fiji. Bainimarama thought he could dictate terms to this group. Vosota Voreqe!!!! What were you thinking? Be glad that they have only rejected your nominee. They could have...oh....chosen Rt. Naiqama as the VP. How would you like them apples then????

One other point I must make here. The president Rt. Iloilo is no longer the GCC nominee. He was removed by Frank, who "became" President for just under a month. He then handed the presidency back to Rt. Iloilo. That makes, in my view Rt. Iloilo the IG nominee. I feel sad for him as I am certain that he is not in charge anymore, and is just being used by the IG to further their evil plans.

To the members of the GCC, you have made us proud. You have stood up, and defended those God gave you sway over. We will not forget this. We will not. I will not.

God Bless Fiji
Proud to be Fijian,
mawdsomething