Fiji's strongman wins brotherly backing

Voreqe Bainimarama at a polling station yesterday. Inset: His brother, Sevanaia Bainimarama. Photos / AP, NA

The Northland-based brother of Fijian military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama hopes the Fijian leader "pulls through" the election so that he continues working for all the races on the troubled island nation.

Sevanaia Bainimarama, who lives in Opua, is among hundreds of Fijians in Northland, some of whom cast their votes through post, waiting anxiously for election results that should be formally announced on Saturday.

About 520,000 Fijians were expected to cast their votes yesterday as the country resumed its return to democracy after eight years since the military, led by Bainimarama, took power in a coup in December 2006.

Seven political parties, including Bainimarama's FijiFirst, are contesting the election under a new constitution. Sevanaia Bainimarama met his younger brother when the Fijian leader visited Auckland for campaign meetings early last month and said it was an opportune time to discuss family matters.

"This is a very important election and I hope he pulls through this one so that he can continue his work for the poor people. I think a majority is voting for him."

"He's a danger to his own people [Fijians] as they don't like him from chiefs to others and also because he speaks his mind but I think people are waking up to the fact that Fiji is for all its citizens to live together," he said.

Another Fijian Paula Tabakinabou cast his vote from Whangarei last week and said it was his first postal ballot since moving to New Zealand in 2006.

"I, like other Fijians, want to make sure that Fiji gets back to democracy. The election results will not only prove what sort of government people want but also whether people are satisfied with the work the present government had been doing for the last eight years."