The People’s Alliance Party leader and former Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka today unveiled the party’s founding members, among them UN security expert Ro Naulu Mataitini , Tui Nawaka Ratu Asaeli Driu Naevo, media personality Ajay Amrit and businessmen Pavan Haer Singh, Keith Watkins as well as former Flying Fijian fly-half Dan Lobendahn Snr.
Tu Naulu is also party Vice President, joining the executive arm of the newest party in Fiji’s political arena comprising Tui Nadi Ratu Vuniyani Navuniuci as Party President, Sakiasi Ditoka as General Secretary, and Treasurer Joseva Leano.
They are joined by Titilia Vuataki and Sereana Tavatuilagi who were previously with SODELPA – the former, as the wife of late lawyer and SODELPA candidate Kitione Vuataki and the latter was a member of the youth arm.
Of the composition of the founding members Rabuka said: “They are well connected with the communities where they live and they are a great value to us as a fledgling young political party. We solicit their support in the development of our policies and also in public relations.”
Singh who was also at the announcement said he was proud to be associated with the party.
“We believe that strong nationalists like himself is somewhere we like this new Fiji move in progress,” Singh said. “We are part of a movement here. We want to see some sort of transparency, …engagement in the political realm and we really want to get the youth and the 18-30-year-olds get involved in our country and the political process, so we’re really proud of this next step and excited to see where next year takes us.”
Rabuka said the biggest challenge for the party is its branding, which is something he believes the composition of the founding members speaks to.
“We are relying on the composition of the initial group. Young people will identify with younger people, so we are advertising by our passions and projections of who we are.”
Founding members of the People’s Alliance Party:
Ratu Vuniyani Navuniuci, Ro Naulu Mataitini, Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, Sakiasi Ditoka, Joseva Leano, Asaeli Driu Naevo, Ajay Amrit, Titilia Vuataki, Pavan Haer Singh, Sereana Tavatuilagu, Keith Watkins and Dan Lobendahn.
