Citizen’s Constitutional Forum Director Reverend Akuila Yabaki says the election is not the end of democracy – but rather a continuation of realizing that people’s visions are being enacted in Parliament.

Speaking on FBC TV’s Elections Special show last night, Yabaki says people should be proud of the fact that elections have been held and that with a good voter turn-out.

He says the election gives the public space to people to contribute to the parliamentary process.

“We tend to think that after each election, that’s the end and we have to do another election. That’s a very poor; a very unimpressive way of understanding what democracy is about. Obviously we have to develop our own brand of democracy. It’s not one size fits all. We have a diversity here. We have a particular context, we have cultural diversity. All those things, they shouldn’t be seen as obstacles. They should be seen as possibilities for creating a better Fiji and people have to learn to make that happen. They can only do that if they are given space and democracy being seen as a long term development.”

The country’s first elections in eight year’s yesterday saw a huge voter turn-out.