A chance foreign exchange program to Australia gave Siromi Turaga a crash course in accessing financial initiatives to further his studies.
Coming from humble beginnings, today the 54-year-old credits the affirmative Fijian Affairs Board (FAB) scholarship introduced by then prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka as his gateway to higher education.
For Mr Turaga, he was able to study law through this program and spent over two decades in Fiji’s public service as both a civil servant and a magistrate.
After studying law, history and politics, the father-of-four was able to collect a bevy of achievements under his belt and is now ready to enter the political arena after declaring his interest to contest this year’s general election as a People’s Alliance candidate.
“I am indebted to the party leader for his vision that there are people who face hardships in terms of finance but they can climb the ladder and move up the hierarchy in society if given that opportunity,” he said.
“If there was no FAB scholarship, I would not have been able to study.”
Originally from Tovulailai, Nairai, Lomaiviti, Mr Turaga attributed his achievements to the grace of God. He said he was blessed by numerous opportunities that propelled him to institutions abroad.
“I was born in the village and the reason I moved to Suva was because my dad had to find a job so my brothers could continue to finish their studies.”
As he moved to the mainland to join his family, Mr Turaga studied at AOG Primary School in Kinoya and Central Fijian School, today known as Sila Central in Nausori.
He was also one of two students chosen from the school to be part of an exchange program in Australia. After he returned, he pursued history and politics at the University of the South Pacific and political science at St Peters University in New Jersey.
“I was honoured to join the civil service in 1991 as a cadet trainee in the PM’s Office department that was specifically established by the party leader (Sitiveni) Rabuka, which was the Fiji Intelligence Service under the leadership of Colonel Mua,” he said.
He worked there until 2000 and later for further training until he got the opportunity to realise the goal his father wanted him to achieve — to become a lawyer.
“When I was in Australia, I was accepted into Griffith, unfortunately, due to family circumstances I couldn’t go. I said I would go and study law for two years while working on an in-service program and continued the last two years in Vanuatu through FAB scholarship.”
His law degree led him to the Ministry of Home Affairs and later on, as the Principal Legal Officer for the Western Division. Soon after, he applied for the position of magistrate and was successful.
His initial posting was at the Sigatoka Magistrates Court and then Nadi. He said he was thankful to contest the election and stated he had campaigned largely in maritime areas, including Lomaiviti and Gau.
“Our young people are more politically aware than before and it’s apparent all over the place. This election is so important for Fiji. “You have to vote and choose well.”
