Patronage weakens Fiji democracy, archbishop warns

Speaking at the 2nd Pasifika Philosophies Conference in Nasinu earlier this month, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong said patronage had influenced leadership, resource distribution, ethnic mobilisation and political loyalty in Fiji and other Pacific Island countries.

Archbishop Chong described patron-client politics as an exchange in which people with political, social or economic resources provide assistance, protection, employment or development opportunities in return for political support.

“The patron possesses the greatest social and political economic resources,” he said.

Archbishop Chong said the system became problematic when people relied on personal connections to access resources rather than universal rights and accountable institutions.

While patronage could provide immediate assistance, he said, it could also create long-term dependency and contribute to corruption because many arrangements were informal and outside public accountability.

The archbishop said systems of patronage existed in Fiji before colonial rule, but this was later institutionalised through British indirect rule, with the colonial government becoming a major patron and chiefs and officials serving as intermediaries.

Archbishop Chong said elements of patronage continued after independence, including during periods of political instability and military intervention.

He said the past government administration weakened the traditional chiefly establishment but created a new form of patronage centred on military and centralised executive power.

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Patronage weakening Fiji’s democracy, says Catholic archbishop (By Joseph Balolo/Fiji Sun)