Mitikulena on Niue politics

Mana (Auckland), Volume 2, Issue 3, 4 May 1978, Page 4

Mitikulena on Niue politics

I wish to express a few general comments about the General Election and the various views expressed before, during and after the event which took place on the 25th of February 1978. It was pleasing to see that the event came and went without any major or permanent disruption among ourselves, and by the same token it was also interesting to learn that the political maturity and awareness of our people are gradually growing. I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all the candidates who contested the common Roll seats. I know you were aware that Politics is an art of Government which in similar and simpler terms, governing of one’s self, one’s family, one’s village and one’s country. For those of you in the Common Roll whom the majority of the people have elected to lead them in the next 34 or so months, I offer sincere congratulations on the same line, to those of you who contested at village constituency level, both the successful and unsuccessfuls, and as well as those who returned unopposed, (probably because of the lack of a competent opponent or by virute of their capabilities well recognised and respected at their true and democratically united villages), I extend the same felicitation. Though the election has been and gone, I feel that all the points raised by the various candidates, carried some relevant elements of truth and value. It’s the accumulation of these small points which, when put right makes a firm and unpenetrable structure to a well accepted and organised form at a later time. As we’ve witnessed. Politics has become a vigorous relaity among the women folk and has been thoroughly metastasised to gain three well deserved representatives, under a well camouflaged-name, “Women’s Interest Club’’. It Would be more true now to say “Women Interest Party” after all the probable essence of their existence had already surfaced in the past three years and its now time to face the facts. One can just imagine what may happen in the next election.

However, I must admit that I admire and appreciate the unity stability and honesty of the women voting population, as shown in what they’ve achieved. They would’ve captured all the six seats had they nominated another three more. Give them a chance at village level and a good proportion of the Assembly would probably be women. I have a feeling someone, somewhere along the line must’ve overlooked something while drafting the ‘bible’ for the Government. Should the constitution be. reviewed and

revised again? I welcome the idea put forward by one of the Common Roll candidates, about forming an Opposition Party. May be his honesty in trying to put forward a healthy and intellectual proposal, to the already polluted minds of those who thought otherwise of him, have resulted in his being defeated. Never to worry, your near 10 per cent of the gross population is a promising sign. In any case, we've only to ask ourselves, why are we continuously sending our bright overseas? Of course, not to return and form opposition parties but to get higher education and obtain the utmost in what they are capable of and to return with the heart for Niue, and a competent brain recognised internationally. The idea of an opposition party, should not be rejected and discarded or condemned but to be thought of and considered fairly. It’s the progress of knowledge and understanding that makes one to realise and know the difference and to act accordingly. It was this similar notice, which led us to Internal Self Government; being capable of being self sufficient. We felt then, that the time had arrived, and our knowledge had reached a maturity wise enough to differentiate and efficient enough to act accordingly. Such attitudes as; our place is too small; people would be divided and chaos would result, are thoughts of no confidence in our abilities, incompetent in our efforts and afraid to face the truth and be victimized. If we can only take a little time to check ourselves, look around and ask a few personal questions such as: Am I any better now than I was originally, both domestically and professionally? Are systems of administration more judicious now than before? What can I do to contribute to the betterment of my people now and the future? The women folk have proved to us all what unity can do for an organised body. So why rubbish the idea of an opposition party, or only look to the adverse effects of it, but rather think that the time is getting near when politics must be practised to its fullest, and not playing ‘tit for tat’ with one another in our own little corner of the world. As some statesmen often said; you can fool half of the people all of the time, all of the peopje half of the time, but never all of the people all of the time. Naturally, our country is poor in material things, but I believe we have in our midst, some God-gifted naturally talented and domestically . educated Politican, (the making as evident in our long last Leader). They probably have the potentials and capabilities of being sagacious

and honest statement of our country, but were unfortunate not to be elected, probably because their baits were not “bully beef”, and that they popped out from urated and unfounded one man parties. Now that our political canoe has completed its short break for reorganisation and the crews settled into their daily routines, while the officers deliberate with the various ways and means of steering Nukututaha to unity, peace, progress and prosperity, for the next three years. Let’s ' just ask ourselves. Is Niue really for Niueans only and is it really unity that we mean or are we trying to single out a few differences with our neighbours from afar because of our selfishness and hunger for the luxury of Niuean Politics. It would be very satisfying in the present day of existence and understanding if all the seats in our Assembly be elected under Common Roll. How true would it be then that Representatives in the Assembly would be of the people, by the people and for the people. In a sense it’s true that we are more or less a large village or a small town. In the existing situation one would be dishonest to divert from the needs of those whom one primarily represent, but to claim the representation of the people as a whole. There are only six representatives of the people as a whole, and each village has a representative of its own. These are facts, and there's no two ways about it. It’s true that we want to feel responsible, which is a wave of true Christian impulse. Let’s stick to the existing facts and not mirror images, after all, the overall effects of clean and honest politics is the long lasting benefit to the people as a whole. The power of the Village Council must be emphasized more clearly and realistically in relation to that of the village representative, rather than to adopt the motherland’s governing complexities and getting ourselves confused with identification and differentiation of powers and duties. So let’s identify ourselves in the various public bodies we have and be made clearly understood. The expression that too mny young people in the Assembly would turn it into “Assembly boys”, must be reviewed again. The era for such phrases is fast disappearing. Let’s not judge the books by their covers, but give them a chance and we’ll see what they contain. Some of us understand that entering into politics is like asking for the highest form of responsibility, or applying for a very complex career. In a democratic society such as ours, the freedom to do anything has been shown by the response of the 16 candidates, who applied

to the people for consideration and those who were selected by their free will and were elected as responsible and able characters, to fight their course for the next three years. 1 trust that the six of you are well aware that you are the choice of the people, your qualifications have been well recognised and accepted by them, now let’s see your potentials, capabilities and qualities in action. Don’t come out at the end of the journey and ' tell us that the term was only for feeling the ropes and gaining some experience. Politics is the summit of all occupations in any country, it’s the controlling tower of any nation, not a plyground for the undergraduates. It’s an arena for those who are capable and competent. confident and comprehensive, sagacious and honest frank, versatile but sceptical and can persevere. The faith and trust' of the people are in you and the 14 others elected at village level. May your combination be a saturated bond intheeyesofhim who is so divine, and may it be supersaturated at all times, and precipitate the true crystals of unity, peace, progress and prosperity, for the benefit of everyone living on this rugged and isolated little island, Nukututaha. Let's prove wrong, the saying, “the richer getting richer and the poorer getting poorer”. Such can be very conspicuous in a small place such as ours. To all of you elected, let not the crown of faith and trust of your supporters, become mentally constipated, while the theoretical battle is in progress, only to get outside and become verbally diarrhoeal, to show the simple minded who voted for you that you are theoretically and practically constructive. - Let not jealousy or lust for personal gain, dull your higher centres at all times, but rmemeber those you represent and the people of Niue as a whole both in national and international concerns. Thank you. Dr Mitikulena Avatele