Forgive

and forget

NEARLY three years after her husband was toppled by a milit ary coup, Kuini Bavadra said she has risen above the disappointment and forgiven those who brought her family so much sadness. Says Mrs Bavad ra: “Because of the situation after the coup (in May 1987) we were compelled to develop a closer relationship with God and we think we have gained a lot spir

itually.

“This is something my late husband and I talked about in the past two-and-a half years when he was alive. We’ve gained something. We often talked about it as a blessing in disguise. We’ve become stronger, spiritually, into the extent that I don’t feel any bitterness whatsoever and 1 thank God for it. It is the greatest gift that God can give those who try and emulate the teachings of Jesus Christ.

I was very bitter immediately after the coup but as I developed this relationship with God nothing seems to matter any more. I treat diem as fellow men, as my chiefs, as my brothers.

Excerpts of an interview with Mrs Bavadra at Viseisei Village: • Why did you accept the job?

It’s because of my late husband’s per sonal sacrifice. I feel morally obliged not to sit back and withdraw to a comfort able position and watch the Coalition Party continue with the struggle that meant so much to my late husband and to those of us who adored him as a lead er and as a personal friend. The other reason is my strong conviction that as a Christian I cannot just sit back and watch things being said and done to other communities that we have lived with for over a hundred years and not do anything about it. • How are you going to lead?

It’s one of reconciliation. I want to in fuse a sense of togetherness. I want to instil in our people that we can still make it as a nation, that we don’t have to fight, that we don’t have to say strong words against each other. We are deeply reli gious people, Christians and non- Christians alike; we believe in the same universal principles of brotherhood of men and goodwill to everyone whether black or white, Indian or Fijian. I believe that we all have this basic sense of good will and goodness. • How do you compare your leadership to that of your late husband?

There is not much difference in the approach and the philosophy in the