Atu Emberson Bain
Encyclopedia
Atu Emberson Bain is a Fiji
an political leader. A leading figure the Fiji Labour Party
(FLP), she served from 1999 to 2006 as one of 8 Senators
nominated by the Leader of the Opposition
.
Bain is known for her outspoken opinions. She has called for the voting age (currently 21) to be lowered, for the national flag
(which currently bears the British
Union Jack to be changed, and for the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
to be removed from the national currency
. She is on record as saying that after 18 years as a republic
, Fiji should consider whether it is appropriate to retain the symbols of its colonial
past.
Bain has a tense relationship with fellow-Senator Ratu George Cakobau
, one of 14 nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs
. Parliamentary debates between the two have sometimes turned acrimonious, with Cakobau questioning her right to speak on matters pertaining to indigenous Fijians
on the grounds that she is not indigenous. (Bain is registered as a General Elector
, an omnibus category including Caucasians, Chinese, and other minority groups). He has attacked her for commenting on the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB, or native land register), saying that only registered members of the VKB have the right to make comments on it. In late 2005, a Senatorial committee investigated a complaint from Bain that Cakobau insulted her.
First appointed to the Senate in 1999 by then-Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
, Bain was kidnapped along with many of her colleagues and held as a hostage by gunmen led by George Speight
, during the Fiji coup of 2000
.
Bain was not reappointed to the Senate in 2006, and differences between her and the FLP leadership subsequently became public when she joined fellow-FLP politicians Krishna Datt
, Felix Anthony
, Agni Deo Singh
, and Poseci Bune
in criticizing Mahendra's leadership style.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an political leader. A leading figure the Fiji Labour Party
Fiji Labour Party
The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji, which holds observer status with the Socialist International. Most of its support at present comes from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoci Bavadra. It is...
(FLP), she served from 1999 to 2006 as one of 8 Senators
Senate (Fiji)
The Senate of Fiji is the upper chamber of Parliament. It is the less powerful of the two chambers; it may not initiate legislation, but may amend or veto it. The Senate's powers over financial bills are more restricted: it may veto them in their entirety, but may not amend them...
nominated by the Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Fiji)
The post of Leader of the Opposition is a political office common in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. It did not originate in Fiji but has a long tradition; in British constitutional theory, the Leader of the Opposition must pose a formal alternative to the government, ready...
.
Bain is known for her outspoken opinions. She has called for the voting age (currently 21) to be lowered, for the national flag
Flag of Fiji
Prior to ceding the country to British rule in 1874, the government of Fiji adopted a national flag featuring blue and white vertical stripes, with in the centre a red shield depicting a white dove. This flag ceased to be used when the colonial era began and Fiji relinquished its independence...
(which currently bears the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Union Jack to be changed, and for the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
to be removed from the national currency
Fijian dollar
The dollar has been the currency of Fiji since 1969 and was also the currency between 1867 and 1873. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively FJ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
. She is on record as saying that after 18 years as a republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
, Fiji should consider whether it is appropriate to retain the symbols of its colonial
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
past.
Bain has a tense relationship with fellow-Senator Ratu George Cakobau
George Cakobau, Jr.
Ratu George Cakobau, Jr., also known as Ratu Jioji Cakobau, is a Fijian chief and political leader. The son of the late Governor-General, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, who was also the Vunivalu of Bau...
, one of 14 nominees of the Great Council of Chiefs
Great Council of Chiefs (Fiji)
The Great Council of Chiefs is a now dormant 1997 constitutional body in the Republic of the Fiji Islands. In April 2007 the council was suspended, due to an unworkable relationship with Frank Bainimarama, leader of an "interim government" which came to power through a military coup in December 2006...
. Parliamentary debates between the two have sometimes turned acrimonious, with Cakobau questioning her right to speak on matters pertaining to indigenous Fijians
Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
on the grounds that she is not indigenous. (Bain is registered as a General Elector
General Electors (Fiji)
"General Electors" is the term used in Fiji to identify citizens of voting age who belong, in most cases, to ethnic minorities. The Constitution defines General Electors as all Fiji citizens who are not registered as being of Fijian, Indian, or Rotuman descent. Also included are citizens who do...
, an omnibus category including Caucasians, Chinese, and other minority groups). He has attacked her for commenting on the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB, or native land register), saying that only registered members of the VKB have the right to make comments on it. In late 2005, a Senatorial committee investigated a complaint from Bain that Cakobau insulted her.
First appointed to the Senate in 1999 by then-Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
, Bain was kidnapped along with many of her colleagues and held as a hostage by gunmen led by George Speight
George Speight
George Speight , occasionally known as Ilikimi Naitini, was the principal instigator of the Fiji coup of 2000, in which he kidnapped thirty-six government officials and held them from May 19, 2000 to July 13, 2000...
, during the Fiji coup of 2000
Fiji coup of 2000
The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of a non-native Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and...
.
Bain was not reappointed to the Senate in 2006, and differences between her and the FLP leadership subsequently became public when she joined fellow-FLP politicians Krishna Datt
Krishna Datt
Krishna Datt, last name sometimes spelt as Dutt, is a Fijian politician of Indian descent. Born in Labasa, Vanua Levu in 1944, Datt served as Principal of Suva Grammar School, where he participated in the national teachers' strikes in 1985, which launched his political career with the Fiji Labour...
, Felix Anthony
Felix Anthony
Felix M. Anthony is a Fiji Indian trade unionist and political leader.During the 2000 coup, he was illegally detained by members of the Taukei Movement, an ethnic Fijian extremist organisation....
, Agni Deo Singh
Agni Deo Singh
Agni Deo Singh is an Indo-Fijian teacher, who has risen through the ranks of the Fiji Teachers Union to become its general secretary. He was also elected to the House of Representatives in 2006....
, and Poseci Bune
Poseci Bune
Poseci Waqalevu Bune is a Fijian politician, who has served as Deputy Leader of the Fiji Labour Party . From June to December 2006, he served as Minister for the Environment, one of nine FLP ministers, in the multiparty Cabinet of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase...
in criticizing Mahendra's leadership style.