Witnessing the struggles of Fijians digging through their wallets to buy basic food items spurred Satish Prasad to contest the 2022 polls under the National Federation Party banner.
The taxi operator, clothing and grog trader from Wainibuku, said he was engaged in politics in 2014 with “other political parties” but declined to name which ones.
“I used to help people out whenever they needed to access government assistance and made them understand their rights,” he said.
“I have been around the country doing community service and I know the struggles on the ground.”
Mr Prasad said with the recent increase in price of basic food items, he has seen the challenges faced by families who were struggling to put food on the table.
“I’ve seen the struggles with my own eyes.
“When they go out shopping, families are finding it very difficult to find the cash for every item they put on the counter, and they dig for every single coin in their wallets to buy the items they need.”
Apart from the financial difficulties many were facing, Mr Prasad said Fijians were living in a country that did not enjoy true democracy.
He said the fundamentals of the political ideology – such as giving people the freedom to protest – had been taken away.
“We need to take Fiji back to where it was – a true democracy.
“Only then will our future generation know what it’s really like to live in a democratic country.
“If I get a seat in Parliament, I will advocate on the rights of farmers because even they are finding it a challenge to buy farming chemicals as they are very expensive.”
Mr Prasad said he was overwhelmed with the support of his family when he informed them about his plans to stand in the general election.
He said he chose NFP because he believed in what the party stood for and because it was one of the oldest political parties in Fiji. Mr Prasad was educated at Bhawani Dayal Primary School in Nakasi.
He completed secondary education at Bhawani Dayal Arya College and Rishikul Sanatan College.
He worked at Brij Lal and Company and then joined Courts Fiji Ltd where he worked for seven years as an executive national sales representative.
He resigned to start a new business. Mr Prasad is married with three children.
