| Out of adversity springs
hope, it is often said. In the case of Rabi nothing is more apt.
Out of the turmoil which led to
riots on the island in December 1991, the Banabans have realised
what a fickle and false world they have been living in.
"That had become a lesson
because they have nowhere else to turn to but to help
themselves," says new Rabi Island Council chairman John Teaiwa.
"It has been encouraging from
that perspective; from all the negative things the previous council
did, the people have got up to help themselves."
Teaiwa, as the new leader of his
people, has not illusions about the task ahead of him.
The hope of the Banaban people is
pinned on him and, in the light of the sad history of mismanagement
of Banaban affairs, much is expected of the former civil servant.
His election to the council and
then as chairman is an unequivocal statement by the people that the
era of skulduggery must stop.
Significant in that, as a career
public servant and having lived away from Rabi in most of his adult
life, Teaiwa could be considered an outsider.
But having suffered the follies of
his leaders, he has something in common with his people.
Further, to be selected chairman
from the smallest village - Tabiang, which now has three
representatives on the council - speaks volumes about the mood of
the people.
"It is fair to say that they
will want a fairly clean, fair and honest administration,"
Teaiwa says.
"A clear direction is what the
Banaban is dying to see from their council."
"It is our intention to take
them in that direction."
While the hope is on him to lead
his people to Canaan, Teaiwa does not want his people to have any
illusion about the path ahead.
He wants handouts discouraged and
that is why the annual bonus and allowances system called 'te roo'
is unlikely to last.
"We have to make them
understand that things do not happen instantly," he says.
"It takes sweat and toil to
achieve things."
"They (Banabans) are expecting
a lot of good things, some may not be realistic, it is for us to
tone down those aspirations into reality.
They have always relied on
handouts. If we have any money that we should use, it should be for
something that will benefit the whole community; facilities that
will enable the people to pursue their interests."
The 50 year history of the Banabans
in Fiji has been littered with unparalleled and unchecked financial
debauchery.
Years of shenanigans and arrogant
high-handedness by elected council leaders and an unmitigated
dereliction of the Government's duty to properly supervise the
banaban affairs has left a once perceivable rich and proud race
almost destitute and reduced to begging.
To say that the Banabans feel
disgusted is an understatement. They feel cheated.
The new chairman is aware that
leadership has always been a problem among his people. Not that
Banabans are not capable of being good leaders. With a distinguished
career in government as Permanent Secretary, Teaiwa is a testimony
to that.
Banaban leaders, though, have a
propensity to abuse and transgress. Sadly the transgressions were
mainly against their own people. "Yes, leadership had been one
of our weakest points in our history," he says.
"I am more ashamed that my own
people can do that to us more than anything else. We can excuse
outsiders for doing that but not our own people."
It was the disillusionment of the
people on the council in what they considered a blatant disregard
and insensitivity to their plight that led to the riots.
"the previous councils have
really been a very powerful little group in the sense that they have
total control of Banaban affairs," Teaiwa said.
"They use the trust fund they
way they see fit. It boils down to simple things like setting a
budget and not sticking to it. They spend money on things that suit
them. Going on and expensive overseas trip and taking the whole
council and advisers."
"Why do they have to take a
whole rugby team? It boggles the mind."
"One of the things councils
were fond of was making decisions and not following them. They were
exclusive; and island and I mean exactly that. They isolate
themselves from the machinery that was set up to help implement
things, to control budget and to account for every dollar and cents.
Now there is no record."
"Maybe if there was close
supervision it could have helped minimise the extent of the
problem."
The bitterness of the Banabans in
recent years have reached a height that positive contributions of
previous councils and leaders have almost been disregarded.
Even to the extent that almost 50
years of leadership by the Rotan family on Rabi and their spiritual
homeland of Banaba has been branded as one of pursuit of interests
other than those of the people.
Rotan Tito was undisputed leader of
the Banabans on both islands.
In Banaba he had led the opposition
to the British Phosphate Commission. The Banabans had wanted more
money for the destruction of their homeland.
On Rabi, with his son Reverend
Tebuke, he led the legal action against the commission and the
British Government to compensate for the permanent destruction. Old
man Rotan was chairman of the council for over 30 years before
Tebuke took over.
Another son, Tekoti, was chairman
and managing director of the now defunct Rabi Holdings Ltd. A
nephew, Tomasi Teai, was for many years secretary to the council.
Teaiwa, however, does not want to
be dragged into discussion about personalities.
"It is not unusual to have
leaders who have abused their power," he says.
"No one is immune to those
kinds of things."
He feels that people may have been
unduly unkind to the Rotans although he is aware of the hostile
attitude towards the end of their rule.
"I would like to remember old
man Rotan as a shrewd leader," he says.
"From Ocean Island to Rabi he
was the main figure. I think they have done the best they could in
the face of all our problems."
On Rabi Holdings, he feels that
perhaps it expanded too quickly.
"We reached a level where we
did not have the expertise to manage the expansion," he says.
"Certainly we have to think
carefully before we get into something like that again."
Teaiwa decided to contest a place
on the council because he felt he had something to contribute to his
people.
"The desire to go back and do
something for my people has always been there," he says.
"The time is right for me to
offer my services now that I am retired from government."
Like many of his contemporaries and
many who followed, Teaiwa asked for financial assistance from the
council to pursue further education but was refused.
His secondary studies at St. John
College, Cawaci, and tertiary education at the University of Hawaii
had to be funded from sources outside Banaban resources.
"It has been an unfortunate
decision on the part of the council that not much emphasis was put
on education," he says.
But this will change. While the
immediate priority of the council will be "bread and butter
issues", education will be a long term one.
Teaiwa, along with the only woman
councillor Makin Karoro, are keen to see that Banabans are given the
opportunity to pursue higher education.
The thrust of Teaiwa's programme
will primarily evolve around the community. Projects would be
community or individual based with the council providing a
facilitating role.
Revenue generation is the focus. He
is mindful of the need to be accountable. "Like any responsible
body there is need for more transparency," he says.
"There should be a code to
guide our members. It is important that the council understands the
limitations of its powers. Often it tends to go off track."
The ultimate optimist, Teaiwa sees
good times ahead. "We shape the future." Teaiwa says.
"In that regard the future of
Rabi is bright." |
