Fiji: Caretaker Regime Party Wins First Seat

Caretaker Regime Party Wins First Seat In Fiji Poll

By Anish Chand: September 4, 2001
Wansolwara Online (USP)

SUVA (Pasifik Nius): The Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewanivanua (SDL) candidate Konisi Yabaki became the first member of Fiji's new House of Representatives after winning his Kadavu Fijian Provincial seat early this morning.

Yabaki captured 2396 votes ahead of Jim Ah Koy of the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei (SVT) party, who polled 1930 votes.

Yabaki was modest in victory and thanked Ah Koy for being a worthy opponent.

"He gracefully conceded defeat to me and I thank him for that," Yabaki said.

In another confirmed result this morning, the former Local Government and Housing Minister in the deposed government Dr Ganeshwar Chand won his Lautoka City Indian Communal seat.

Dr Chand of the Fiji Labour Party polled 5899 votes ahead of three other candidates.

Faiaaz Ali of the National Federation Party did not take the defeat well.

"People think they can trust Chaudhry and his promises so be it. The NFP was born in the cane fields and we know that the Fijians can talk only to us regarding important issues like land," Ali told Fiji TV.

"People came and ate our food and travelled in our transport but voted for Labour. How can the Indians be trusted," he protested.

The Labour Party also won the Lautoka Rural Indian communal seat this morning.

Udit Narayan polled 4962 votes to defeat Vishwa Nadan of the National Federation Party (1988) and Naren Prasad of the Girmit Heritage Party (13).

More results are expected to trickle in in the coming hours from the three counting centres.

+++niuswire

© Scoop Media