Page 16 - IB April 24

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around town and I saw the devastation in Suva. This was Did the group see themselves as freedom fighters of some
a couple of months later. I didn’t realise the extent of the sort when you went into prison?
damage and I remember telling myself, ‘Oh my god, what I’m not a freedom fighter. If they want to be called freedom
have we done? What have we done?’ And I realised that we fighters, that’s for them and I think some of them even
probably have let the genie out of the bottle and it scared me portrayed themselves [that way]. But not me. I’m just an idiot
[that] it only takes a small thing like this to unleash this pent- who got sidetracked.
up emotion that is in the people. Of course, a lot of looting
was [by] opportunists because at that time, the people who This personal journey that you’ve embarked on, what
were supporting the cause were all in Parliament. They had brought that about?
all marched to Parliament. So, who did the looting in town? When I was in prison, I thought about this a lot. Because for
I’m not excusing that. I’m just trying to put some perspective. me to come out of the bad place I was in - not physically, that
And of course, we saw pictures, which was really, very sad ... I was in prison, but where my mind was – was to first accept
of mothers, women, carrying trolleys [of loot] up the hill, past the situation I was in and take responsibility. That’s when the
the [Colonial War Memorial] hospital. healing started to take place. And then I thought that I should
write to people that I’ve hurt. I wrote about 200 letters from
So, what was Speight’s primary motivation? prison to anybody I thought I had hurt or harmed or betrayed.
Well, George will, I’m sure, have the opportunity at some Groups, individuals, institutions, and families. I was surprised
point to tell the world what his position was. But he was at the magnanimity of the people who received my letters. I
never the main player. He was ditched with the baby on his do not know where they all are now. I just sent it out. I was
laps. touched by a lot of the responses and I got a letter from the
late Dr. Brij Lal. l was so encouraged and I was so emotional
So, there were people behind him. when I read the letter. [It was] a very short letter and the
He was the man of the moment. He was the one facing the kindness in the man to say that, ‘We will continue to talk
cameras. when you come out of prison’.
There were also the mockers, the detractors, certain
Given your education, training, experience in journalism, persons who said unkind things that, you know, ‘He’s been in
what kind of lens were you viewing this whole thing from? prison and all of a sudden, he’s ...’. That’s fine, I accepted all
Well, let’s put it this way. I got a call from Parliament. I that as part of the package. You take the bad with the good. I
said, ‘No, I’m not coming down’. And then they called again. wrote to Mr. Chaudhry and I had the opportunity to apologise
Basically, they did not know where they were going. I think to him personally when he came to visit in prison. And I want
what was supposed to have happened didn’t happen. So, I got to continue this dialogue with Mr. Chaudhry if he would like
another call, I got about three or four calls, maybe five. And to.
then eventually, after two o’clock I went down to Parliament, Because if anything, I am among the reasons Fiji is in this
because the person who called was a friend of mine and current state of distrust and toxic political environment. If I
somebody who had shared our fortunes and misfortunes. can assist in bringing the nation together, it would be part of
my atonement for my errors. For I have been an unprofitable,
So, did you get swept away? What was going on inside your misguided individual who would like to do what I believe is my
head? duty to put things right. And I would work with anyone in the
I joined because at that point, I realised that these people political spectrum, the communal leaders, the vanua and the
needed help. I was not so much as for the cause, although faith organisations to bring that about.
there was this thing about what Chaudhry was doing. I I also did my traditional apology to my chiefly household
also took that into account. But primarily because the call of Vatuwaqa and the people of the vanua of Lau. I had
came [and] so I went. And when I was finally called into the invited the Lau Provincial Council to have its meeting at
meeting, I walked in and I saw faces that I’d never seen the Corrections Academy in Naboro. By that time, the
before. And I started asking the questions, ‘Have you done arrangements had been confirmed for the Police Academy.
this? Have you done that?’ And as I asked the questions, I was But the Roko gave us the farewell church service. I got my
also suggesting solutions and then I just got dragged into it. dear late sister, Pijila to organise the family. I presented
The more I asked questions, the more I found out how much the matanigasau to the then-Council Chairman, Ratu Tevita
things were in disarray. I just thought I’d do my bit [because] Uluilakeba (Roko Ului). It was a special moment, in front of
they were people who had taken over Parliament and they did all the delegates to the council meeting, the chiefly clan
not know where to go from there. of the Vuanirewa, and Lauans who filled the two buses and
countless vehicles that made it to Naboro. Our matanivanua
But you were driven by some nationalistic sentiments? (herald) was to make the tabua presentation. But I took it off
I am a [indigenous] Fijian. And everything that goes with him because I wanted Roko Ului and the people of Lau to hear
that. I’m not infallible. But then again, I do not want to blow my remorse from my mouth. It was very, very emotional. Very
that trumpet. liberating. Cathartic.

16 Islands Business, April 2024