Earlier this month Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka gave something of a rambling account on a plan he seems to have which, if it turns out, could radically change his nation. It’s hard to find any local media coverage of it because of the way he’s taken to delivering speeches.
Rabuka has always been a story teller; there are three (at least) authorised books of his 1987 coups. Each is a bit different. Now, back as premier, he is 75-years-old and like 81-year-old US President Joe Biden he rambles on with tales of earlier life. Less the dynamic lieutenant colonel charging into Queen Elizabeth Barracks, more the grandpa wanting an afternoon kip. Listeners have to be carefully tuned in to spot what is important.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Michael Field's South Pacific to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.