HE PRESIDENT JIOJI KONROTE’S KEY NOTE ADDRESS AT THE WELCOME RECEPTION FOR PACIFIC WOMEN IN POWER FORUM 2019

26/03/2019


• Your Excellency, The Former President/ Honourable Speaker of the Fijian Parliament, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau; 

• The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiame Naomi Mataafa; 

• The Honourable Members from the nine (9) Pacific Island States and New Zealand Parliaments; 

• Your Excellencies, Heads of Missions/ Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps from the Australian High Commission, the Embassy of Japan and the 
New Zealand High Commission; 

• The UNDP Pacific Office Resident Representative, Mr. Vineet Bhatia; and 

• Ladies and gentlemen. 

A very good evening to you all. 

Ni sa bula vinaka, Asalaam Aleykum, Kia orana (Cook Islands), Talofa Lava (Samoa), Alii (Palau), Fakaalofa lahi atu (Niue), Mauri (Kiribati), Kia’ Ora (Maori). 

It is indeed a great honour and pleasure for me to be here this evening to welcome you to Fiji and to deliver a few remarks at this Pacific Women in Power Forum reception, 2019. I believe it prudent that I begin by acknowledging the leadership of the Fijian Parliament, being one of the driving forces which has been instrumental in ensuring that such a powerful and motivating Regional Pacific Forum takes place here in Fiji. 

At the outset I also deem it proper that I acknowledge the Vision, passion and leadership of a great Fijian woman, a great leader, loyal and hardworking, an honest and humble civil servant and the first woman Speaker of the Fijian Parliament, the late Speaker, Dr. Jiko Luveni, who in 2018 started the discussions with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the need for such a forum. 

I would also like to commend and acknowledge the untiring efforts of the current Speaker, His Excellency the Honourable Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, an equally good soldier and Military Commander, a former Speaker and a fine statesman for turning that Vision into reality. 

The Pacific Women in Power Forum provides an excellent platform to engage Women Leaders like your good selves to share your vast experiences and knowledge and assist in developing best practices on key issues that will help you in your very important roles as Members of Parliament. It is a unique opportunity to extend your network, build relationships and enhance your knowledge on women and leadership issues, as well as an opportunity to meet peers and friends from across the Pacific. 

Honourable Members, we all know that the under-representation of women at any level of governance and decision-making can result in a democratic deficit. It has been proven time and again that diverse groups make better decisions. This is particularly true when it comes to a task as challenging as representing the views and interests of citizens in any country. I personally believe in the well-renowned English adage that: “beside every successful man is an equally talented, gifted and successful woman”. Women are gifted and unique in many ways and in any political debate they can be trusted to give a more balanced view and perception regarding the issue at hand. 

Pacific context 
The Pacific region has the lowest level of women’s political representation in the world and sadly, this has been the case for many years. The low level of women’s representation in Pacific Parliaments is a critical challenge for democracy and the sustainable development of our region. 

Although significant resources have been dedicated to programmes aimed at increasing women’s political leadership and participation, progress has been rather slow in the Pacific Region since we gained independence from our colonial masters decades ago. For example, the Pacific region has found it challenging to reach targets of even 10 percent women’s representation in Parliament. Only in January 2016 was the first woman elected President of a Pacific country, Dr. Hilda Heine, in the Republic of Marshall Islands. 

However, there are encouraging signs of progress. In the Cook Island’s election last year we saw a record number of women elected to Parliament with twenty five percent of Cook Island’s Members of Parliament now being women. We also have a record percentage of candidates being women at next month’s election in the Solomon 
Islands. 

Across the Pacific today, there is progress in this area and we should celebrate this much welcomed trend and progress whilst at the same time encouraging more action and positive changes in this regard. I would like to quote and remind us of the words of Ms. Michelle Bachelet, Head of UN Women, Former President and Defense Minister of Chile, “For me, a better democracy is a democracy where women do not only have the right to vote and to elect but to be elected.” Apt and timely words of wisdom and encouragement indeed! 

At this juncture, please allow me to highlight some of Fiji’s progress in this area since 2014. Fiji had its general elections in September 2014 under our 2013 Constitution in which Members of Parliament were elected through an Open List Proportional Representation voting system, with one national constituency. Political parties and independent candidates must now obtain/achieve a minimum of five percent national threshold to be eligible/qualify for a seat in Parliament. 

When we consider women’s participation in Fiji’s two most recent elections, 2014 and 2018 there have been encouraging signs that more women are now venturing forth to join their male colleagues in representing their respective communities in parliament. In our election last year, fifty six Fijian women out of the two hundred and thirty-five candidates (a total of twenty four percent) contested the national election. 

This is an increase from 2014 when only eighteen percent of candidates were women. And indeed, at the final count of votes in November 2018, a record number of ten women (twenty percent in total) out of the fifty-one MPs were voted into Parliament representing three (3) political parties. This is the highest number ever for our country and this milestone achievement must be celebrated, acknowledged, and accepted as the new trend in our national psyche and political arena/landscape. 

Honourable Members, I can assure you that there is an evolution of democracy in Fiji and women are now very much central to our political domain, leadership and decision-making positions across the different sectors. To illustrate this point, five (5) women now hold ministerial positions, three (3) being women Cabinet Ministers and two (2) hold Assistant Ministers Portfolios and of course the Chief Whip of the Opposition party is also a woman. 

This development of women in leadership positions in Fiji, both in the political sphere and in other sectors, demonstrate the confidence we have in the capacity of our women to effect change and contribute to the development of our nation. 

I also wish to highlight that in the last Parliament term 2014-2018, Fiji Parliament’s Secretariat leadership had the first woman Speaker, the late Dr. Jiko Luveni, and she was ably supported by a strong management team of women including the Secretary General, who is here with us tonight, the Deputy Secretary General and several women senior managers. In the civil service, we have women represented at Permanent Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Director Levels across all government agencies. 

Honourable Members, Fiji is far from being a perfect model. Although we have made some notable progress, more work needs to be done to increase the participation of women in decision making, political and public life, as well as in the private sector. 

On this note, I wish to acknowledge the unwavering support and invaluable contribution of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Fiji for endeavouring to ensure that “we break the glass ceiling”: (of what has been for decades, the accepted norm in a Male Dominated Society), by continuously and strongly advocating for and raising awareness on Gender Equality in our country and being that strong and consistent voice for women and young girls. It is encouraging to see that your collective efforts are slowly, but surely coming to fruition and this, ladies and gentlemen, is in line with the provisions in Fiji’s 2013 Constitution, i.e. that of Inclusivity. 

In my capacity as the immediate past Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, the Flagship University of the Pacific region, in 2018, I noted with great interest and pride that female graduates are gradually outnumbering the males. This is indeed a positive sign for women in the Pacific. 

However, having women elected to Parliament or progressing to leadership positions is only part of the journey. Once there, Women leaders must be supported, engaged and appreciated and this is where peer-to-peer exchanges, and a Pacific forum such as this, becomes so critical to our socio-political and economical progress as Pacific Island Developing States. 

In hindsight, as women in any position of leadership you set a new and enviable trend for many aspiring younger women in our societies. You inspire them to dream big and set goals to accomplish and fulfill them. Honourable Members, please allow me to elaborate on my other role apart from being a President and Head of State of our beloved Nation for, I am also very committed to being Fiji’s Lead Advocate and Champion in the National campaign to combat and try and eliminate NonCommunicable Diseases and promote the Fijian Government’s Wellness Programme. 

Non-Communicable Diseases and related ailments like Hypertension and Diabetes has been, unfortunately, prevalent in Fiji and the Pacific. NCD’s are now contributing to the deaths of over 80 percent of the most productive members of our population – people below the age of 70. 

As women leaders in your own Island nations, I believe it is crucial to advocate on healthy eating, leading a healthy lifestyle and preserving our beautiful and pristine environment. Most if not all of you Honourable Members are mothers and some grandmothers and apart from your professional portfolios, I believe that you all share this passion to promote healthy eating, proper preparation of meals and healthy living in our own homes, in our workplace, in our Ministries, in our countries and eventually in our beloved Pacific region. 

I trust that you will find the deliberations and outcomes of this Forum timely, useful and equally enjoyable. This is a unique regional learning experience and I encourage you to share your vast knowledge and experiences, and form lasting friendships and professional networks. 

While you are here in Nadi, I hope that you will find some time to enjoy our genuine warmth and hospitality as Fijian people, your host, traditional neighbour and friend. 
Enjoy your evening and I wish you well and every success in your deliberations. 

Thank you, vinaka vakalevu, dhanyavaad, shukriya!, meitaki (Cook Islands), fa’afetai (Samoa), ke kmal mesaul (Palau), faka’aue (Niue), ko rab'a (Kiribati), whakawhetai koe (Maori) 

May Almighty God bless us all, always!